Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has denied media reports suggesting that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused him of sexual harassment.
The controversy arose after a report stated that Senator Cyril Fasuyi, representing Ekiti North, claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan previously accused Fayemi of sexual harassment during Wednesday’s plenary. However, Fayemi’s media office clarified that Fasuyi never made such a statement.
In a statement by head of Fayemi’s media office, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, the former governor denied reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan had once accused him of sexual harassment.
The statement said, “We wish to categorically state that this report is inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the actual comments made by the Distinguished Senator from Ekiti. Upon reviewing the proceedings, it is evident that Senator Fasuyi never made such an allegation.
“Instead, what he actually stated was that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in the past, made false and defamatory claims against Dr. Fayemi when he served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, specifically, regarding issues related to the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
“At no point did Senator Fasuyi link Dr. Fayemi to any allegations of sexual misconduct by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.”
Sajoh added, “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan – or anyone else, for that matter – has never accused Dr. Fayemi of any form of sexual misconduct.”