Let’s your husband defend himself, Natasha tells Akpabio’s wife

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, has urged Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to refrain from intervening in allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation leveled against her husband.

The dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President escalated after she refused to sit in a designated seat during a Senate session, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules.

The situation intensified when she appeared on Arise News on Friday, accusing Akpabio of blocking her motions, maligning her, and intimidating her after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances.

In response, Mrs. Akpabio held a press conference in Abuja, dismissing the allegations and asserting that both families had maintained a cordial relationship for years, even before Akpoti-Uduaghan’s marriage. She suggested that the claims were unfounded.

However, in a letter dated March 1, 2025, addressed to Mrs. Akpabio through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan advised her to stay out of the matter.

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,” the letter emphasized that the allegations were personal to the Senate President and that he should respond to them himself.

“Our Client is not desirous of calling you out into the unfortunate saga concerning her allegations against the Senate President and wishes that you restrain yourself from delving into the obscene circumstances,” the letter stated.

“While she has tolerated all the harassment from the Senate President, she was constrained to reveal the unfortunate torture and victimization which she has been going through in the red chambers under the hand of the Senate President.”

The letter further stressed that the Senate President should be left to address the accusations on his own.

“Consequently, we would like to state that the allegations of our client are personal to the Senate President, and our client believes the Senate President has the capacity to defend himself and refute any of these allegations against him.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that she has sufficient evidence to support her claims and urged Mrs. Akpabio to allow her husband to handle his own defense.

“Our client has concrete evidence to substantiate her allegations. We will suggest that you leave the defense of the allegations for the Senate President to maintain your sanity and that of your family,” the letter read.

She reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for Nigerian women, stating that, as a family woman, she remains dedicated to upholding shared heritage and family values.