The former Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ms. Joi Nunieh on Monday alleged she was once sexually harassed by Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, noting that the action prompted her to slap the Minister.
In an interview with Arise TV, Nunieh said that she is the only woman who has slapped Akpabio.
“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.”
She also alleged that Akpabio ordered her to inflate the budget of the NDDC by including projects from the refugee commission.
“Akpabio wrote me to put a list of projects from the refugee commission in the budget of NDDC. Refugee commission is another federal government commission for IDPs,” she said.
“How do you tell me to put some of their projects in the NDDC budget when we have so many things to do in the Niger Delta? How do you explain that?”
Nunieh and Akpabio have made allegations against each other following the activities of the senate ad hoc panel investigating the alleged mismanagement of N40 billion by the interim management committee (IMC) of the NDDC.
The New Diplomat had reported how Akpabio had told the panel that he knew nothing about the expenditure of the NDDC under Nunieh because she refused to give him briefings.
Denying knowledge of the money, Akpabio stated that he wasn’t aware of such funds because Nunieh never briefed him.
Akpabio had on Saturday while speaking on Arise TV, described Nunieh as a “disgruntled former MD who does not know that offices come and go.
“I’m not supposed to join issues with her as a minister of the federal republic,” he said.
He said the forensic audit ordered by the President had made those who have questions to answer to be sponsoring attacks.
On her own part, Nunieh stated that Akpabio facilitated her sack as NDDC MD because she refused to follow his illegal orders.
“When we first came to the NDDC, on the day of going for the inauguration, he told me in the car that Madam MD, If you don’t do what I say, the same pen which I use to sign your letter, it will be the same pen I will use to remove you”, she said.
