…ASKS LAWYERS TO FILE DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST NUNIEH
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, denied the allegation of sexual harassment against him by the former acting Managing Director of Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Joi Nunieh.
Both the Minister and the former NDDC boss had engaged in public spat over the last two weeks, throwing dirts on each other over the operations of the Commission.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Anietie Ekong, the Minister also refuted other allegations made by Nunieh ranging from corruption, workplace harassments, pipelines bombings, secret cult activities, and abuse of office.
The Minister has, therefore, asked his lawyers to file a defamation suit against Nunieh.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Honourable Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has been drawn to a cornucopia of false, malicious, and libellous press interviews granted by Ms. GBENE JOI NUNIEH, the erstwhile Acting Managing Director of the Interim Management Committee, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) in some news and social media platforms and a series of concerted vicious campaigns of calumny deviously orchestrated by her against his person ranging from allegation of corruption, sexual and workplace harassments, pipelines bombings, secret cult activities, abuse of office, amongst other lies peddled by her.
“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.”
Akpabio stated that he was happily married and contented with his wife, whom they are blessed with four children.
“The 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 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 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 tenure 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,” the statement said.
On the allegations of his involvement in contract racketeering, bombing of oil pipelines, corruption/diversion of funds, Akpabio reiterated that he had only awarded three contracts since his assumption of office.
He listed the contracts awarded as: the appointment of the lead forensic auditors which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC); the emergency procurement contract for COVID-19 intervention in the Niger Delta Area which due to its urgency had his interim approval and Presidential approval in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, and the award of Vehicles procurement duly approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the Federal Executive Council but yet to be consummated.
“It is noteworthy, that all these contracts went through due processes,” the Minister added.
On Nunieh’s allegation that he directed her to change the dollars in the NDDC’s Account, Akpabio said the account was domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
According to him, every inflow and outflow is known and traceable.
“NDDC gets its revenue in dollars which is paid directly to its Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The Dollar is then converted to Naira by the CBN and paid into the NDDC Naira Account still domiciled with the CBN upon a written application from the NDDC.
“It is therefore impossible for any sum of money belonging to the NDDC with the CBN including the several figures bandied around as missing to be missing,” Akpabio stated.
The Minister also described as false Nunieh’s allegation that he directed the sack of Kaltungo.
Akpabio stated that he had instructed his lawyers to seek necessary redress in a Court of competent jurisdiction on his behalf over the defamatory statements made by Ms. Nunieh.
“On a final note, while encouraging all Nigerians to hold their leaders to account, he urges them to take their time to sift between the chaff and the substance before embarking on far reaching allegations, opinions and views,” Akpabio added.
Comments are closed.