The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has denied allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking on national television, Nwaebonyi insisted that the alleged incident never took place. Describing himself as an eyewitness, the senator dismissed the claims as false.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, recently accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her. She claimed that after rejecting his alleged advances, her motions in the Senate, particularly those related to the Ajaokuta Steel Company, were repeatedly ignored.
Her accusations led to calls for investigations on the matter.
During an interview on Arise TV on Monday, March 3, 2025, Nwaebonyi stated that he was present at Akpabio’s birthday celebration on December 8, 2023, where the alleged incident was said to have occurred.
“As God would have it, I am an eyewitness,” Nwaebonyi declared. “On that fateful day, I was among the Senators who attended the birthday ceremony of the Senate President. I have already shared my account of what happened on social media.”
He argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan was not even seated with other senators during the event. Instead, he said she was in a separate area with her husband.
Nwaebonyi said that at no point did Akpabio make inappropriate remarks toward Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“There was never a time the Senate President told Senator Natasha, ‘Do you like my house? We will come back to have a good time.’ That never happened. Senator Natasha knows that very well,” he said.
