posted 2nd March 2025
Reno Omokri Distances Himself from Natasha Akpoti Controversy
Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has issued a statement distancing himself from the ongoing controversy involving Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Natasha Akpoti.
Omokri revealed that he has been inundated with interview requests from major media outlets in Nigeria regarding the allegations made by Senator Akpoti against the Senate President. He noted that this was largely due to his past encounter with Akpoti, who had once accused him of similar allegations.
In his statement, Omokri clarified that he has no knowledge of the validity of Senator Akpoti’s claims against the Senate President, as he was not present when the alleged incidents took place. However, he recounted his own experience with Akpoti, detailing how she had previously accused him of sexual harassment at Aso Rock Presidential Villa during a reception for the former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, in May 2014.
Omokri refuted the allegations by presenting evidence that, during the dates in question, he had been on an official assignment in the United States as a special envoy of then-President Goodluck Jonathan. He provided proof in the form of travel documents, including a First Class British Airways ticket and a diplomatic passport stamp, which confirmed his absence from Nigeria at the time of the alleged incident.
Following the revelation of this evidence, Omokri stated that Akpoti retracted her claims by deleting her allegations and a video in which she had insulted him and his family. He further disclosed that an influential figure from his ethnic nationality, alongside a respected Christian clergyman, mediated the dispute, leading to an out-of-court settlement. Omokri asserted that he chose to drop the matter after his name was cleared.
Expressing his reluctance to be drawn into the current controversy, Omokri urged the media to respect his decision not to grant interviews or engage further in the matter. He reiterated his high regard for the Senate and its leadership, suggesting that the appropriate committee should investigate the allegations levelled against the Senate President to establish the truth.
With this statement, Omokri hopes to put an end to the media scrutiny surrounding his past encounter with Senator Akpoti and remove himself from the ongoing political controversy.
