The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has rejected the sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Nwebonyi dismissed the claims as politically motivated, suggesting they were an attempt to deflect attention from an ongoing disciplinary matter involving Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Nwebonyi stated that the allegations were unfounded and conveniently timed to divert attention.
He also criticized former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki for comparing his past case to the current accusations against Akpabio, arguing that the two cases were different.
He explained that Saraki’s case involved an issue related to Senate duties, specifically the importation of an official vehicle, which was resolved quickly by the Senate Ethics Committee.
In contrast, Nwebonyi argued, the accusations against Akpabio were personal, unverifiable, and surfaced only after Akpoti-Uduaghan faced disciplinary action.
Nwebonyi further accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of a history of making reckless allegations against prominent figures, including Reno Omokri, Dino Melaye, and Yahaya Bello. He added that her accusations typically lacked evidence and followed a pattern of “wild claims” and media attention.
“If she genuinely believed she was a victim of sexual harassment, the proper channel to address such a grievance would have been the Senate, not a television interview,” Nwebonyi stated.
He also noted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content in November 2023, long before the alleged incident in Ikot Ekpene.
Nwebonyi emphasized that the Senate should not allow itself to be influenced by unfounded allegations and advised Akpoti-Uduaghan to take her claims to the appropriate legal forum instead of using the Senate as a platform for distraction.
He concluded by warning that validating such allegations without evidence could set a dangerous precedent for the Senate, where anyone could make false claims to disrupt its proceedings.