Intimacy, power and N500m culpability of Akpabio or abuse of free media? By Chinedu Okpalanma

Last night, a post began to trend on various social media platforms about a supposed leak from Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. It detailed how sometime in December 2024, the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio engaged her via chats on WhatsApp asking if she was wearing night clothing and requesting she performs certain leud sexual acts, for which he credited her N500 million “just for fun” from money meant for a road project; and when during their engagement she reminded him she was married, he got angry and threatened her with losing her seating position in the senate chambers.

Following up the next day at the Senate (according to the leak), Sen. Akpabio blocked her way because he wanted to “grab her ass”, and actually grabbed her buttocks for long until she pushed his hands away.

Although the post was first generated on Facebook with no name identifying the account of the individual behind the “leak”, the post has generated more than 30,000 shares and reposts on Facebook alone as at 12 noon, Monday, 24th March 2025. Also the fact that Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has until the time of writing not issued any statement denying the “leak” and post as emanating from her, it means the content cannot be simply ignored or wished away. This is because this ultimately questions the integrity of the position of the President of the Senate, and by inference the reputation and image of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is obvious from the comments on these posts shared on social media, that the ultimate aim of the “leak” and those sharing them is to bring down Sen. Godswill Akpabio. Unfortunately, you cannot simply separate Sen. Akpabio from the office he occupies based on the context of the accusations put forward. The post also seeks to paint a picture of a serial sex offender who will go to any length to satiate his desires, which can only be backed by his position and influence as the President of the Senate. Finally, it seeks to portray Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the ultimate victim of the Senate in the National Assembly, a cynical plot to silence her against all odds by a body that ‘operates like a cult’ based on an interview she had with BBC News some days back.

Has this leak finally succeeded in exposing the culpability of Sen. Akpabio with her accusations of sexual harrassment, or has it heightened the dangers of unregulated use of social media in propagating unsubstantiated content in Nigeria?

Well, first let’s get back to the leak…

When I initially read the post on Facebook last night. it sounded believable because of the account that shared it on my wall. The comments on the post showed that almost everyone believed the post as true, with many calling for Sen. Akpabio’s head. Then I read it again this morning, and that was when it dawned on me that there was a big problem – because any right thinking individual who seriously believed the post with the accusations put forward seriously need to have their head properly examined!

In seeking to create very damaging content, the leak rather painted Sen. Natasha as a sordid character unbecoming of being accorded the privelege of a Distinguished Senator. What exactly was the leak supposed to achieve?

It raised the following questions for me:

1. When she supposedly got those leud messages demanding she performs certain sexual acts, she “played along” despite knowing she is a married woman; in essence she encouraged the encounter – isn’t that consent?
2. When N500 million was supposedly sent to her “for fun” so as to enable the advancement of the sexual favours requested, she didn’t reject the money by demanding an account to send back, nor did she alert the EFCC – isn’t that culpability?
3. When her buttocks were supposedly grabbed when she was blocked, she didn’t raise any alarm then knowing that she is married, but rather allowed it so as not to ’cause a scene’ – isn’t that consent?
4. So Sen. Akpabio can transfer N500 million (half-a-billion naira) from the comfort of his phone through a bank app, with all the current regulations by the CBN and money laundering laws in effect, yet she was not picked up by the authorities for questioning?
5. Does Sen. Akpabio have the powers to hold monies meant for federal projects in Nigeria in his personal account, to the extent that he can transfer to who he chooses, when he wishes?

Mind you also, that in all of the posts and reposts detailing this leak, there was not one single evidence attached: no screenshots showing the chats with date stamps, no evidence of transfer (proof of payment), no recorded voicenotes!

When Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Reno Omokri of sexual harassment, it came years after the supposed incident and only when there was an altercation between them. When she accused Sen. Akpabio of sexual harassment, it also came years later, after an altercation resulting from her sitting position being changed. Doesn’t that show a worrying pattern?

It portrays a woman who will condone these acts from men, but keep the encounters stored in memory until a time where there is a form of altercation or disagreement between her and the individual, after which she will then accuse them of the act. Who knows how many more are on that list?

If we on the other hand (and rightfully so) agree that this leak is nothing short of poorly scripted content, then we must ask ourselves the more difficult question: how can this be contained so that people are held accountable for what they post or share to destroy the reputation of others?

I have been a strong advocate of free media. In several of my posts before now, I have written in support of protests against regulating social media in Nigeria, especially when the idea was first mooted during the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari. But considering all that has taken place ever since, I have truly had a strong rethink on my position.

Truth is, we cannot continue to condone and support this trend of faceless platforms and social media accounts spreading fake news about individuals and events, most times sponsored by politicians and well to do individuals to achieve a purpose. The trend seem to have gotten worse of late. It could be anyone’s turn tomorrow. Today, many platforms on social media thrive from posting fake content, generating large followership which transcends to huge revenues, knowing nothing will happen to them. Most will attach pictures to make the content look real, or create misleading images or videos to enhance the fake content. Is this healthy for our society?

Just recently, the Senate passed through second reading a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to require social media platforms to establish physical offices within the country. The bill, titled ‘ A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 650),” was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).

The bill also proposes new regulations for bloggers operating in Nigeria. It mandates that all bloggers must:
– Establish a verifiable office in any of the capital cities across the country.
– Maintain proper employee records.
– Belong to a recognized national association of bloggers, headquartered in Abuja.

I believe that at this time in our political history, this call for regulation is totally justified and I will also suggest more stringent laws are enacted that specifies stiff penalties for individuals or groups who post or share content that damage people’s reputation which they are not in a position to properly substantiate.

Anyone who posts content that abuses, maligns, misrepresents the facts or infringes on the integrity of another must have the ability to prove same, or face the consequences of their actions by law.

(Engr. Chinedu Okpalanma is a businessman, politician and former NCP governorship candidate in Anambra State)