The immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has denied a media report that he was accused of sexual harassment by the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A media report stated that Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), during Wednesday’s plenary, had claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan previously accused Fayemi of sexual harassment.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, Head of the Fayemi Media Office, Ahmad Sajoh, said the report is inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the actual comments made by Fasuyi.
Sajoh stated that, upon reviewing the plenary, the Ekiti lawmaker never made such an allegation.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a news report published by The Cable regarding an alleged statement made by Senator Cyril Fasuyi during today’s Senate plenary. According to the report, Senator Fasuyi purportedly claimed that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, of sexual harassment.
“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.”
Sajoh stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan or anyone else had never accused Fayemi of such misconduct, saying that the former governor has always upheld the highest standards of integrity in public service.
It 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. Dr. Fayemi has always upheld the highest standards of integrity in public service, and we strongly reject any attempt by the media to associate his name with baseless and damaging allegations.
“Furthermore, we wish to make it clear that Dr. Fayemi has no interest in being drawn into the ongoing controversy in the Senate. His past engagements with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan were strictly professional, and any differences that arose were purely based on divergent policy perspectives, not personal grievances.”
Sajoh urged the media to verify facts before publication and stop the spread of misleading narratives which could damage reputations and undermine public trust.
It added, “We urge the media to adhere to the highest standards of ethical journalism by verifying facts before publication. Sensationalism and the spread of misleading narratives not only damage reputations but also undermine public trust in the media.”
