Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, has denied allegations of sexual harassment made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduagha against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking on national television, Nwaebonyi insisted that the alleged incident never took place. As an eyewitness, he dismissed the claims as false.
Senator Akpoti-Uduagha, who represents Kogi Central, recently accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances toward her. She alleged that after rejecting him, her motions in the Senate, particularly those concerning the Ajaokuta Steel Company, were repeatedly ignored. Her accusations have sparked calls for an investigation.
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 claimed that Akpoti-Uduagha was not seated with other senators during the event but was in a separate area with her husband.
Nwaebonyi also insisted that Akpabio never made inappropriate remarks toward her.
“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.
