Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio, had claimed that the removal of former acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Joy Nunieh, was influenced by the late Chief of Staff Abba Kyari.
Akpabio made this revelation on Friday during an event held at the National Assembly complex to mark International Women’s Day.
According to Akpabio, who was the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, his decision to remove Nunieh as NNDC acting Managing Director was based on concern over her credentials which were raised by Kyari.
He stated that he received a letter from Kyari indicating that Nunieh’s credentials were questionable and that she had not undergone the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme upon graduation.
Akpabio further stated that he decided to remove her after confirming the status of her certificate from NYSC.
“When I received a letter from the late Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff, stating that her certificates were questionable and she did not do National Youth Service, I wrote to the NYSC, and the NYSC responded. So I quickly changed her before it became a scandal.
“As soon as she was changed, hell was let loose. She first said Akpabio wanted me to swear an oath of allegiance in the Villa, and they told her that the Villa is wired -The next thing, she came out and said, He tried to touch me, and I slapped him. I am the first woman in Niger Delta to slap him, So Reuben Abati now said, Is it like sexual harassment or rape?”, she said., sexual harassment? No, not rape, maybe something like that” He said, sexual harassment? and she said, Yes,, sexual harassment” Akpabio, however, threatened to sue the former dating NDDC boss over accusation, saying ‘crime never dies’
“My other sister, the one they sometimes refer to as Joy Nunieh, I will like to mention her name because she will be hearing from my lawyer anytime in the next one week. Crime never dies”.
In July 2020, Nunieh was alleged that she slapped Akpabio, who was the then Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, in response to his alleged attempt to assault her.
Speaking during the interview on Arise TV at the time, she said;
“Why did he not tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo.
“I am the only Ogoni woman, the Only Nigerian woman that has slapped him, I slapped him because of his Plan B. Since he couldn’t get me to take that money, he thought that he could come up on me”.
This comes amid another sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently suspended, after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct submitted a report recommending disciplinary action against the Kogi Central lawmaker.
Following the report, the Senate imposed a six-month suspension on her over her shouting match with the Senate President.
