I am a happily married man, your cheap blackmail won't work — Akpabio replies Nunieh

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has responded to allegations by former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joi Nunieh, accusing the former Akwa-Ibom State Governor of sexual harassment.

Akpabio in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, said "there is no scintilla of truth in all the allegations peddled around by Ms. Nbnieh", and described her allegations as nothing more than a "concerted vicious campaigns of calumny deviously orchestrated by her against his person."


While denying any form of sexual advances to Ms Nunieh, he said he is a happily married man, and is contented with his wife.

The statement reads, "Let it be known that there is no scintilla of truth in all the allegations peddled around by Ms. Nbnieh. 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.

"For the records, the Honourable Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON is happily married and contented with his wife. Together they are blessed with children, four (4) of whom are young women.



"The Honourable Minister has never hidden his admiration and respect for his wife, Mrs. Ekaete Akpabio, Children and sisters, he therefore felt compelled to react to the malicious attack on his person by Ms. Nunieh bothering on allegations of sexual harassment.

"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 is an avid believer of the Affirmative Action and that was visible in the appointments he made as a two (2) 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.



"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 tenor as the Acting Managing Director on 17th February, 2020, 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 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?"