The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has denied the sexual harassment allegation levelled against him by the former Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee(IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mrs. Joy Nunieh.
He also threatened to sue Nuineh for alleged defamation of his character.
His Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, in a statement on Friday said the Minister has instructed his lawyers to seek legal redress over the defamatory statements by the former NDDC boss.
Ms Nunieh had in an interview raised a wide range of accusations against the Minister.
The statement described Nunieh’s allegations as “cornucopia of false, malicious and libellous,” adding the Minister was set to seek redress in a Court of law.
It reads: “The Honourable Minister’s initial attitude was to allow his lawyers and the judicial system vindicate him of the false allegations against him, but he is compelled to react to some of the wayward allegations levied against his person by Ms. Nunieh, especially the one bothering on sexual harassment.
“To start with, let it be known that there is no scintilla of truth in all the allegations peddled around by Ms. Nunieh. 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.
Read Also: Our officers at Nunieh’s residence on legitimate duty, say police
“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 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.
He also threatened to sue Nuineh for alleged defamation of his character.
His Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, in a statement on Friday said the Minister has instructed his lawyers to seek legal redress over the defamatory statements by the former NDDC boss.
Ms Nunieh had in an interview raised a wide range of accusations against the Minister.
The statement described Nunieh’s allegations as “cornucopia of false, malicious and libellous,” adding the Minister was set to seek redress in a Court of law.
It reads: “The Honourable Minister’s initial attitude was to allow his lawyers and the judicial system vindicate him of the false allegations against him, but he is compelled to react to some of the wayward allegations levied against his person by Ms. Nunieh, especially the one bothering on sexual harassment.
“To start with, let it be known that there is no scintilla of truth in all the allegations peddled around by Ms. Nunieh. 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.
Read Also: Our officers at Nunieh’s residence on legitimate duty, say police
“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 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.