Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State, has vehemently denied claims made by some media outlets that Senator Cyril Fasuyi, representing Ekiti North, alleged during a Senate plenary on Wednesday that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused him (Fayemi) of sexual harassment. The former governor’s media office issued a statement dismissing the reports as inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the actual remarks made by Fasuyi.
In the statement, Ahmad Sajoh, the Head of the Fayemi Media Office, addressed the misleading news published by The Cable. The report claimed that Fasuyi made an accusation about Fayemi during the Senate session. “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,” the statement read.
Sajoh emphasized that a review of the plenary proceedings revealed that Fasuyi never made any allegation of sexual harassment against Fayemi. Instead, the senator discussed past disagreements between Fayemi and Akpoti-Uduaghan, particularly surrounding the Ajaokuta Steel Company, an issue that arose during Fayemi’s tenure as Minister of Mines and Steel Development.
“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,” the statement clarified. “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.”
The former governor further distanced himself from the controversy in the Senate, underscoring that his past engagements with Akpoti-Uduaghan were based on professional differences regarding policy issues, not personal matters. “There have never been any personal disputes between Dr. Fayemi and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Their differences have always been centered around policy and public interest,” the statement added.
Sajoh’s message also stressed the importance of responsible journalism. He urged media outlets to thoroughly verify facts before publishing, warning that unverified reports can be harmful and erode public trust. “We strongly reject any attempts to sensationalize issues that have no basis in truth,” he stated.
