Emmanuel Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has confirmed that his wife confided in him about her interactions with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Mr Uduaghan, a traditional chief of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, stated that he initially approached the matter with diplomacy and respect.
He said he had always seen Mr Akpabio as a family friend and as a result of the perception, he sought an amicable resolution by meeting the senate president to discuss the situation privately.
The senator’s husband said these in a statement on Saturday.
“My wife has confided in me about her interactions with the senate president, whom I considered a family friend. In response, I approached the matter with the utmost maturity and responsibility, as it is my duty as a traditional leader who has immense respect for constituted authority and upholds core family values, foster peace and harmony” he said.
Private discussion with Akpabio
Mr Uduaghan recounted that in his meeting with Mr Akpabio, he urged him to extend the courtesy and respect that his wife, who is a sitting senator, deserved.
As a result of their previous friendship, he noted that he believed the issue could be resolved peacefully.
“I personally met with the senate president and respectfully urged him to extend the courtesy and respect my wife deserves, while also honouring the friendship between us. We reached an understanding and agreed to resolve the issue amicably,” he said.
However, despite the supposed agreement, Mr Uduaghan noted that his wife continued to raise concerns about harassment from Mr Akpabio, a situation that suggests the issue remained unresolved despite his intervention.
“However, despite this agreement, my wife continues to express concerns about the harassment she has endured from the senate president,” he added.
Allegations against Akpabio
In an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Mr Akpabio made inappropriate advances towards her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on 8 December 2023.
She claimed that the senate president took her by the hand, led her around his house, and made sexual advances towards her in the presence of her husband.
She further alleged that Mr Akpabio had, on a separate occasion, insinuated that she should “take care of him” if she wanted her motions to receive favourable consideration on the Senate floor.
However, Ekaette Akpabio, wife of the senate president absolved her husband of the allegations and filed two defamation lawsuits against Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding N350 billion in damages to her husband’s reputation.
