Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to stay out of the controversy surrounding allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against her husband.
The dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President began when she refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules.
However, the matter took a more serious turn when she appeared on Arise News last Friday, where she accused Akpabio of blocking her motions, maligning her, and using his position to intimidate her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances.
In reaction to these claims, Mrs. Akpabio addressed a press conference in Abuja, where she dismissed the allegations, insisting that both families had previously shared a cordial relationship even before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage.
She described the accusations as baseless and misleading.
Meanwhile, in a legal letter dated March 1, 2025, and addressed to Mrs. Akpabio through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, she warned her to stay out of the matter. 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,” made it clear that the allegations were directed only at the Senate President and that he should be the one to defend himself.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated in the letter that she had no intention of involving Mrs. Akpabio in the controversy and urged her to refrain from interfering. She expressed that while she had tolerated various forms of harassment from the Senate President, she was ultimately forced to speak out about the mistreatment and intimidation she had endured in the Senate.
The letter further emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan had enough evidence to support her claims and insisted that Mrs. Akpabio allow her husband to respond to the allegations rather than inserting herself into the matter.
The letter stated, “Our client has concrete evidence to substantiate her allegations. We suggest that you leave the defense of these allegations to the Senate President to maintain your sanity and that of your family.”