NDDC: Akpabio Says He Is Contented With His Wife, Denies Sexual Harassment Alleged By Ex-Commission MD

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has denied allegation of sexual harassment made against him by a former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh.

Nunieh had, in an interview with a team of Arise TV journalists on its programme, The Morning Show on Monday, accused the minister of attempting to harass her sexually.

“Why did he not tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo? I am the only woman that slapped Akpabio. He thought he could come up on me. He tried to harass me sexually,” she said.

“I slapped him. He tried to come on me. I am an Ogoni woman and nobody jokes with us. I showed Akpabio that Rivers women do not tolerate nonsense.”

Denying the allegations, Akpabio said he has never made sexual advances against Nunieh to the NDDC ex-managing director.

Speaking through his media aide, Anietie Ekong on Wednesday, the former Akwa Ibom governor said he is contented with his happily married wife.

“The honourable minister did not at any time, place or circumstance make any form of sexual advances to Ms. Nunieh, not even to put himself in a position or posture suggestive of sexual advances towards Ms. Nunieh, or any female staff of his ministry or the NDDC,” Ekong said in Akpabio’s behalf.

“For the records, the Honourable Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON is happily married and content with his wife.

“Together they are blessed with children, four of whom are young women. The honourable minister is an avid believer of Affirmative Action and that was visible in the appointments he made as a two term executive governor of Akwa Ibom state between 2007 and 2015.

“Under his watch, he appointed several women into various high level positions as Chairpersons of Local Government Councils, Magistrates, Judges, Heads of Parastatals, Directors, Permanent Secretaries, and Commissioners.

“He is the first governor in Akwa Ibom state to have a female deputy governor, was also the first to appoint female chief justices of the high court, recommended women for ministerial appointments one of whom was the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and supported for appointment the first female vice-chancellor of the only Federal University in the state etc.”

The former sennator also wondered why Nunieh didn’t speak out about the alleged sexual harassment until the senate began probing the NDDC.

“If indeed the allegation was true. Waiting till July 10th and 13th 2020 when the National Assembly appears to be probing some of her actions as the Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee (“IMC”) exposes her motive, especially at a time when the momentum for the Forensic Audit,” he said.

“Investigation of the NDDC is heating up and the truth is about to be unveiled for all to see? The critical question is who is afraid of the Forensic Audit at the NDDC? Who is Afraid of the Truth?

“There is no doubt that Ms. Nunieh’s attacks are both personal and sponsored.”

The minister added that he has instructed his lawyers to seek necessary “redress in a court of competent jurisdiction on his behalf over the defamatory statements made by Ms. Nunieh.”