Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sues Senate President Godswill Akpabio for Defamation, Seeks ₦100 Billion in Damages

Chinelo UgwuFebruary 26, 2025

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over alleged derogatory remarks made about her. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, also names Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as a co-defendant.

Defamation Claims and Social Media Post

Through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan referenced a social media post published by Patrick and allegedly made at Akpabio’s prompting. The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, accused the senator of believing that being a lawmaker was solely about wearing makeup and transparent outfits to the Senate chambers.

Giwa described these remarks as defamatory, provocative, and damaging to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s character, arguing that they diminished her reputation among her colleagues and the general public. The lawsuit contends that the statements were designed to incite public ridicule, paint the senator in a negative light, and damage her credibility as a legislator.

Legal Demands and Compensation Sought

As part of her legal reliefs, Akpoti-Uduaghan is requesting the following:

A court declaration that the statements made about her were defamatory and intended to incite public disapproval.
A perpetual injunction preventing Akpabio, Patrick, and their associates from making further defamatory remarks against her on any platform.
₦100 billion in general damages for reputational harm and ₦300 million in litigation costs.

Political Dispute and Senate Tensions
This lawsuit stems from a recent Senate controversy after officials reassigned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat during a chamber reshuffle. She fiercely opposed the decision, sparking a heated clash with Senate President Akpabio.

The dispute intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, but he denied the allegation. Her outspoken stance prompted Senate leaders to refer her to the Senate Disciplinary Committee for further review.

This legal battle further fuels the ongoing power struggle in the Senate, exposing deep tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the chamber’s leadership.