Reuben Abati, the former presidential spokesman, has responded to allegations made by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following accusations of sexual harassment.
Abati, speaking during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show, called Atiku’s comments defamatory, particularly those where Atiku accused Akpabio of being corrupt and having a history of abusing women. In an interview with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie of Untold Stories, Atiku had accused Akpabio of being a “weakness for women,” claiming that the Senate President has been known for “abusing women” even during his tenure as a governor. Atiku also suggested that Akpabio’s behavior was part of the reason for the state of emergency in the National Assembly, as he implied that the leadership there was corrupt.
Abati, while addressing these remarks, emphasized that Atiku’s comments could be legally problematic. He pointed out that since Akpabio has never been convicted of corruption, he could demand proof from Atiku to substantiate these claims, labeling them as defamatory. Abati stated that Atiku, having held the office of Vice President, should be aware of the potential legal consequences of making such serious allegations without solid evidence.
The issue has gained more attention due to a separate sexual harassment accusation made by Kogi West Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who claimed that Akpabio sexually harassed her and subsequently deprived her of certain privileges when she rejected his advances.
The ongoing accusations against Akpabio have sparked significant political and legal discussions, especially in light of the gravity of the allegations and the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.