Fayemi: Natasha never accused me of sexual harassment
Fayemi Media Office has refuted a report by The Cable alleging that Senator Cyril Fasuyi claimed during a Senate plenary that Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, of sexual harassment.
In a statement signed by Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, Head of the Fayemi Media Office in Abuja, and dated March 5, 2025, the office described the report as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of Fasuyi’s comments.
The statement clarified that during the plenary, Fasuyi referenced past false and defamatory claims allegedly made by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Fayemi when he served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development. According to the senator, these claims were 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,” the statement read. “We are therefore at a loss as to how The Cable arrived at such a grave and unfounded assertion.”
The Fayemi Media Office reiterated that neither Akpoti-Uduaghan nor anyone else has ever accused Fayemi of sexual misconduct. It emphasised that Fayemi has consistently upheld the highest standards of integrity in his public service career and rejected any attempt to associate him with baseless allegations.
The statement further noted that Fayemi has no interest in being drawn into the ongoing controversy in the Senate. It added that his past interactions with Akpoti-Uduaghan were strictly professional and rooted in policy differences, not personal disputes.
“There is absolutely no basis for any claim that Dr Fayemi intends to submit a petition to the Senate on this matter,” Sajoh said.
The media office also urged journalists to adhere to ethical standards by verifying facts before publication. It warned that sensationalism and the spread of misleading narratives damage reputations and erode public trust in the media.
The statement reads: “We have become aware of a statement made by Senator Cyril Fasuyi during today’s Senate plenary, in which he alleged that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, of sexual harassment.
“We categorically state that this claim is entirely false. At no time has Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—or anyone else, for that matter—ever accused Dr. Fayemi of such misconduct. It appears that the Distinguished Senator from Ekiti inadvertently misrepresented the facts, as no such allegation has ever been made against Dr. Fayemi.
“Consequently, there is no basis for Senator Fasuyi’s further assertion that Dr. Fayemi would be submitting a petition to the Senate in this regard. We would like to believe that, in his enthusiasm to defend the Senate President, Senator Fasuyi inadvertently conflated events, leading to a misrepresentation of facts.
“For the record, the only professional engagement Dr. Fayemi ever had with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was during his tenure as the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, when he oversaw matters related to the Ajaokuta Steel Company. While they may have held differing views on the future of the company at the time, their interactions remained strictly within the realm of policy discussions. At no point did Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan make any allegations of misconduct against Dr. Fayemi.
“We urge Senator Fasuyi to exercise greater diligence in verifying facts before making public statements, especially on sensitive matters that could damage reputations.
“Dr. Fayemi remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity in public service, and we reject any attempt to tarnish his name with baseless allegations
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