By Abiola Olawale
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State at the Senate, has issued a statement urging Mrs Unoma Akpabio, wife of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to step back from addressing the allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation levelled against her husband.
The controversy, which has garnered attention in political circles, stems from an ongoing dispute between Natasha and Akpabio.
The disagreement escalated over a seating arrangement in the Senate chamber. Natasha declined to occupy the new designated seat, a development that sparked tension between her and Akpabio.
However, the situation has since escalated, with Natasha accusing the Senate President of inappropriate behaviour.
Following the accusations, Mrs Akpabio defended her husband, maintaining that Natasha’s allegations were false and baseless.
In a counter-reaction contained in a letter addressed to Mrs. Akpabio, Natasha emphasized that the matter is a personal one for the Senate President and suggested that he should handle it independently.
The senator also expressed a desire to avoid dragging family members into what she described as a “professional disagreement with serious implications.”
The letter reads in part: “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. While she has tolerated all the harassment from the Senate President, she was constrained to reveal the unfortunate torture and victimisation that she has been going through in the red chambers under the hand of the Senate President.
“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 can defend himself and refute any of these allegations against him.”
She said she has enough evidence to back up her claims, urging the wife to allow her husband to defend himself for the sake of her sanity and family.
“Our client has concrete evidence to substantiate her allegations. We will suggest that you leave the defence of the allegations for the Senate President to maintain your sanity and that of your family.
“Our client remains resolute in the defense of Nigerian women and as a family woman, she will continue to maintain our common heritage and family values.
