By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has cautioned Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to refrain from interfering in the ongoing allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation leveled against her husband.
The trouble began when Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules. The situation escalated further when she appeared on Arise News, where she accused Akpabio of blocking her motions, maligning her, and intimidating her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances.
Reacting to the allegations, Mrs. Akpabio held a press conference in Abuja, dismissing the claims as baseless. She insisted that both families had maintained a cordial relationship for years—even before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage—and suggested that the accusations were politically motivated.
However, in a March 1, 2025 letter addressed to Mrs. Akpabio through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan firmly advised her to stay out of the matter, stressing that the allegations were personal to the Senate President and that he should defend himself.
The letter, titled “Stay Away from Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment and Intimidation Allegation Against Sen. President Godswill Akpabio; To Safeguard Your Sanity and That of Your Family,” warned that further interference could escalate the issue unnecessarily.
“Our client has tolerated all the harassment from the Senate President but was eventually forced to speak out,” the letter partly read. “The allegations are personal to him, and our client believes he has the capacity to defend himself. We suggest you leave the defense to the Senate President to maintain your sanity and that of your family.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also stated that she possesses concrete evidence to back up her claims and remains committed to defending Nigerian women against harassment.