Senator Godswill Akpabio,
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has denied allegation of sexual harassment
against him by Mrs. Joy Nunieh, a former Managing Director of the Interim
Management Committee, IMC, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
He described the allegations as
corruption fighting back from those resisting “the wind of change.”
Speaking at a press conference in
Abuja, yesterday, the Minister was asked to respond to Dr. Nunieh’s sexual
harassment allegation.
Akpabio said, “As a minister of
the Federal Republic, I can’t talk about individuals.
“I’m more concerned about what
this administration can deliver to Nigerians and how to make sure NDDC delivers
its mandate to the region.
“All the rumbles you are hearing
are because of the change that is coming; for the first time, the people will
have a say on how their funds are used.
“Change is coming and they should
be prepared for it. N18 billion was inserted into the NDDC budget for schools,
yet, they have no school to run.
“Since I became a minister, I
have only given out two contracts. The first, was for the forensic audit of
NDDC and the other for COVID-19 intervention to states in the region.
“NDDC is assisting states to set
up two testing centres. We also assisted the governors financially to set up
isolation centres.
“The story of the Niger Delta
will change. The forensic audit will throw up who has money to refund, who
still has job to do.
“And even now, over 70
contractors have gone back to work. All the participating forensic audit firms
are registered with the Auditor General of the Federation.
“With a mere mention of forensic
audit, over 70 roads have been completed in the Niger Delta. The forensic audit
is meant to block leakages in the system.
“On the first day of the forensic
audit, 8,000 documents were given to them. Some who collected money in 2004,
2006, are now coming back to do the work.”
Akpabio said the issue of
corruption was high in the Ministry before he came on board, adding that
someone collected billions to supply fingerlings but when he assumed office,
the unnamed individual came to him and said the fingerlings are now ready and
“I just laughed and asked him to return the money to NDDC.”
Nunieh had during the week said
that she is the first and only woman to have slapped Senator Akpabio.
Mrs. Nunieh said this when she
appeared on Arise TV on Monday to addressed the allegations raised against her
by Akpabio.
“I am the only woman in Nigeria
to have slapped Akpabio,” said, detailing the incident when Akpabio allegedly
wanted to take advantage of her.
“He [Akpabio] wanted me to take a
blood oath of secrecy in Abuja.
“My meetings with Akpabio were
either in Apo or Meridian, those are his meeting points…so I slapped him… I am
accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.”
Recall that Akpabio, while
reacting to a previous allegations against him by Nunieh, said the former NDDC
MD has character problem.
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