Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has denied and rubbished the recent sexual harassment allegations made against him by Ms. Gbene Joi Nunieh, the former Acting Managing Director, Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, .
The Minister, in a statement issued on Wednesday, in Abuja, by Anietie Ekong, his Media Aide, said that the allegations are “litany of lies”.
His words: “They are simply false.
“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.”
Ms. Nunieh, in an interview she granted recently, accused the Minister of corruption, sexual and workplace harassment, pipelines bombings, secret cult activities, abuse of Office, among others.
However, the statement maintained that Akpabio did not harass her sexually, as he is happily married and contented with his wife.
“Together, they are blessed with children, four (4) of whom are young women”, the statement stressed.
Akpabio stated that he was compelled to react to the allegations, because of his admiration and respect for his wife, Mrs. Ekaete Akpabio, children, and sisters.
According to the statement: “The Honourable Minister, therefore, finds the said allegation nauseating and a very cheap blackmail, for Ms. Nunieh to suggest or insinuate that he sexually harassed her, while she was the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC.
“The Honourable Minister also finds it appalling that Ms. Nunieh never deemed it fit to report the alleged incident to the Police, at the earliest opportunity she had, before, during, or after her tenure as the Acting Managing Director, on 17th February, 2020, if indeed the allegations were true.
“Waiting till July 10 and 13, 2020, when the National Assembly appears to be probing some of her actions as the Acting Managing Director of the IMC, exposes her motive, especially at a time when the momentum for the forensic audit investigation of the NDDC is heating up, and the truth is about to be unveiled for all to see.”