Deputy Chief Whip Dismisses Natasha’s Harassment Claims Against Senate President Akpabio
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has refuted allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Natasha, representing Kogi Central, recently accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her during a visit to his Ikot-Ekpene residence in December 2023. She claimed the incident occurred during a birthday celebration for the Senate President and alleged that Akpabio made inappropriate advances toward her.
However, Senator Nwaebonyi, who was present at the event, has dismissed these claims, stating that the allegations are false. Speaking on *Arise TV* on Monday, March 3, 2025, Nwaebonyi asserted that he was an eyewitness to the events of the day and confirmed that no such incident took place.
“On the issue of sexual harassment as alleged by Natasha, as God would have it, I am an eyewitness,” Nwaebonyi said. “On that fateful day of December 8, 2023, I was among the Senators who attended the birthday ceremony of the Senate President. Right from Senator Attah Airport, I drove in the same vehicle with Senator Natasha and her husband. I was in the front seat while they were in the back seat.”
Nwaebonyi explained that after attending several events in Uyo, the group proceeded to Akpabio’s residence in Ikot-Ekpene. He recalled that Senator Natasha and her husband stayed behind in the parlour while other senators, including himself, toured the residence with Akpabio.
“I must tell you for free, and that’s the truth, that Senator Natasha never joined us inspecting the building of the Senate President. She was seated at the parlour with her husband,” Nwaebonyi stated. “The Senate President took us around, showed us the chapel, and even called Catholic Senators to join him in a Holy Mass. There was never a time when the Senate President touched Senator Natasha or made any inappropriate remarks.”
Nwaebonyi suggested that Senator Natasha’s allegations may have been motivated by her dissatisfaction with recent changes to her seating arrangement and committee assignments in the Senate.
“It is disheartening and unbelievable for a Senator of the Federal Republic to, out of mere provocation—simply because you were given a new seat and probably your committee was changed—get up to lay a false allegation against a man old enough to be your father,” he said.
When asked about the Senate’s response to the allegations, Nwaebonyi emphasized that no formal complaint had been presented. “The Senate can’t act on hearsay. Senator Natasha has never presented any issue before us,” he stated.
The controversy has sparked widespread debate, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, Senator Natasha has yet to respond to Nwaebonyi’s statements.
*Oguninsight.com*
