If there’s one thing Godswill Akpabio somehow manages to do, it’s finding himself at the center of controversy. From accusations of sexual harassment to questionable political maneuvers, a scandal has never really been far from him.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit six of the biggest storms he’s found himself in.
- The Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Allegations (February 2025)
Nothing has stirred as much conversation as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations against Akpabio. According to her, she was subjected to persistent sexual advances from him, which she claims has ultimately affected her privileges in the Senate.
In an interview with Arise TV, she detailed an encounter at his birthday party in 2023, where he allegedly held her hand in front of her husband and said, “Now that you are a senator, I’m going to create time for us to come and spend quality moments here. You will enjoy it.”
She also accused him of sexually harassing her in his National Assembly office during a meeting for an official assignment. Akpabio has denied these claims, while superintending over the six months suspension handed out to Natasha by the senate ethics committee. Senator Natasha has now taken her case to the UN calling for accountability, alleging that her suspension was retaliation for rejecting Akpabio’s alleged sexual advances.
- The Niger Delta Money Mystery (October, 2015)
Remember when Akpabio was Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and N40 billion went missing under his watch? Yeah, we do too.
Former NDDC boss, Joi Nunieh, accused him of fraud and strong-arm tactics, claiming he pressured her to approve shady transactions, including converting dollars in the commission’s account and removing certain officials. She also revealed that he once tried to make her sign a letter implicating Senator Nwaoboshi in fraudulent contracts.
At the time, Nigerians had plenty of questions with no answer’s forthcoming till this day.
- Joi Nunieh and the Slap That Shocked The Nation (Joy 2020)
The first widely reported sexual harassment allegation against Senator Akpabio came from none other than Joi Nunieh—the same former NDDC boss who exposed the agency’s financial mismanagement scandal.
Nunieh didn’t just call him out; she claimed she had to slap him in self-defense during one of their encounters. “Why didn’t he tell Nigerians that I slapped him in his guest house at Apo?” she asked in an interview. One thing about Akpabio? He stays making headlines—for all the wrong reasons.
- The Senate Comeback (June 2022)
A lot of political watchers thought Akpabio’s political career was over after he lost the APC presidential primary in 2023, but they were made to think again as like a cat with several lives Akpabio bounced bac to claim the Akwa Ibom North-West Sentorial Ticket of the APC.
A former police DIG, Udom Ekpoudom, had already won the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial primary on May 27, 2022. But somehow, a parallel primary was held, and when that didn’t work, another rerun was conducted on June 8—guess who emerged the winner? Akpabio.
Even INEC’s Akwa Ibom REC, Mike Igini, called out the irregularities, stating that officials only monitored the original May 27 primary. But as always, Akpabio found his way back into the system, securing his Senate seat via a Supreme Court ruling.
- The ‘Senate Is Not a Nightclub’ Drama (July 2024)
Another viral moment came in 2024 when he clashed with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on the Senate floor.
During a plenary session, Natasha attempted to speak without seeking his permission (a parliamentary no-no). Instead of a simple correction, Akpabio hit her with:
“Distinguished Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognized before you speak. We are not in a nightclub.”
The comment sparked outrage, with many Nigerians calling it misogynistic and unprofessional. The backlash was so intense that Akpabio had to issue an apology—probably the first time he’s done so for any scandal.
- The EFCC Detention Drama (Oct 2015)
Back in October 2015, Akpabio found himself in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of fraud and embezzlement during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong, accused Akpabio of diverting over N100 billion from the state’s coffers, alleging that between January and December 2014, Akpabio, along with his aides, made illegal withdrawals totaling N22.1 billion. Akpabio was detained for questioning but was released after a few hours. He later addressed the media, stating that he voluntarily honored the EFCC’s invitation and answered their questions.
