Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has denied the sexual harrassment allegations levelled against him by Joy Nunieh, former NDDC Acting Director.
Akpabio has been in a constant war of words with Nunieh who accused him of corruption, sexual harrassment, forcing staff to swear oaths among other allegations.
Reacting to the sexual harrassment claims, the former Akwa Ibom Governor said he is content with his wife and would never engage in acts that would jeopardize his happy marriage.
He made this known in a statement released by his media aide, Anietie Ekong, on Wednesday.
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The statement reads;
“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,” the former senator said.
“For the records, the Honourable Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON is happily married and content with his wife.
“Together they are blessed with children, four of whom are young women. The honourable minister is an avid believer of Affirmative Action and that was visible in the appointments he made as a two term executive governor of Akwa Ibom state between 2007 and 2015.
“Under his watch, he appointed several women into various high level positions as Chairpersons of Local Government Councils, Magistrates, Judges, Heads of Parastatals, Directors, Permanent Secretaries, and Commissioners.
“He is the first governor in Akwa Ibom state to have a female deputy governor, was also the first to appoint female chief justices of the high court, recommended women for ministerial appointments one of whom was the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and supported for appointment the first female vice-chancellor of the only Federal University in the state etc.”
Akpabio implied he had enemies hiding behind Nunieh to assassinate his character as she waited until the Commission was undergoing a probe before going public with her accusations.
“If indeed the allegation was true. Waiting till July 10th and 13th 2020 when the National Assembly appears to be probing some of her actions as the Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee (“IMC”) exposes her motive, especially at a time when the momentum for the Forensic Audit,” he said.
“Investigation of the NDDC is heating up and the truth is about to be unveiled for all to see? The critical question is who is afraid of the Forensic Audit at the NDDC? Who is Afraid of the Truth?
“There is no doubt that Ms. Nunieh’s attacks are both personal and sponsored.”