Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of corruption and habitual abuse of women following sexual harassment allegations leveled against Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Abubakar stated that he was unsurprised by the swift approval of President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State by the Akpabio-led Senate, alleging that the Senate leadership is corrupt.
“I was not surprised because the leadership is corrupt. I have no apologies about that. They could do anything. The Senate president is known to have had those kinds of character when he was a governor. I got the reports quite a long time ago,” Abubakar said.
Pressed on whether he had specific reports about Akpabio’s corruption, Abubakar reaffirmed his stance, saying:
“He was corrupt. Not only was he corrupt, but he was also in the habit of abusing women. I got that report before.”
The accusations follow claims by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. Akpabio has denied the allegations, calling them baseless.
Contacted for comments, Akpabio’s spokesperson, Aniete Ekong, said he would need to consult his principal before responding to Abubakar’s claims.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, recently suspended for six months over what the Senate termed her disobedience to its rules, has insisted that her suspension is an attempt to silence her.