High Chief Emma Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom in Delta State and husband of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has confirmed that he is aware of Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s multiple sexual harassment of his wife.
Uduaghan stated that he initially addressed the matter with diplomacy and respect. He mentioned that he had always regarded Senator Akpabio as a family friend and, due to this perception, he sought an amicable resolution by meeting with the Senate President to privately discuss the issue.
The senator’s husband made these statements in a release 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 great respect for constituted authority and upholds core family values, fostering peace and harmony,” he said.
Chief Uduaghan recounted that in his meeting with Godswill Akpabio, he urged him to extend the courtesy and respect that his wife, a sitting senator, deserved.
He emphasized that, based on their past friendship, he believed the matter could be peacefully resolved.
“I personally met with the Senate President and respectfully urged him to extend the courtesy and respect my wife deserves, while also honoring the friendship between us. We reached an understanding and agreed to resolve the issue amicably,” he said.
However, despite the supposed agreement, Uduaghan noted that his wife continued to voice concerns about harassment from the Senate President, indicating that 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 toward her during a visit to his residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on December 8, 2023.
She claimed that the Senate President took her by the hand, led her around his house, and made sexual advances toward 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 favorable 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 for damage to her husband’s reputation.
Call for probe
On Friday, hours after Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure an independent and transparent investigation into the matter.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, also advised Mr. Akpabio to submit himself to an open investigation to ensure fairness and a transparent resolution.
I have faith in my wife’s loyalty
Despite the controversy, Uduaghan reaffirmed his trust and confidence in his wife.
He expressed his unwavering faith in her loyalty and remained resolute in his commitment to their marriage.
“I have unwavering faith in my wife’s loyalty and am fully committed to our marriage, which is grounded in love, compassion, and mutual respect. I would never trade her for anything, as she is the greatest joy of my life,” he added.
He, therefore, appealed to the Senate to treat his wife with the respect and dignity she deserves while allowing the relevant authorities and courts to determine the facts of the matter.
“I now respectfully urge the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate President to treat my beloved wife with the respect and dignity she truly deserves while the relevant authorities and the court determine the underlying issues.”
Uduaghan complained about unnecessary sentiments being stirred around the issue, which he believes are distracting from the real allegations.
“It is clear that certain sentiments are being stirred up unnecessarily, distracting from the serious underlying allegations, which should concern every discerning individual with sound family values.”
He further emphasized that his wife was elected by the people of Kogi Central due to their trust and confidence in her leadership.
“Without prejudice to the ongoing legal proceedings, I wish to emphasize that my wife was duly elected by her people because of the immense love, respect, and confidence they have in her, and she is committed to delivering quality representation to her district and the nation at large. She is a devoted wife, and the bond we share is deep and unwavering. She has always remained truthful, even in the face of adversity,” Chief Uduaghan said.
