The dispute between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio has escalated as the Kogi Central lawmaker filed a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to Persecondnews, the lawsuit stems from a Facebook post published by an aide to the Senate President, titled: “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”. The senator claims the post falsely portrayed her as believing that being a lawmaker involved “wearing heavy makeup and transparent clothing to the Senate Chambers.”
The suit, marked CV/737/25, lists Akpabio and his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr. Mfon Patrick, as defendants.
Allegations and Legal Demands
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan asserts that the publication was defamatory, provocative, and damaging to her reputation. Through her legal team, led by Mr. Victor Giwa, she is seeking several remedies, including:
- A public retraction and apology: The senator demands that the defendants withdraw the defamatory statements and publish a written apology in a nationally circulated newspaper.
- Monetary damages: She is claiming N100 billion in general damages and an additional N300 million to cover litigation costs.
- A perpetual injunction: The senator seeks to restrain the defendants from making further defamatory statements about her, whether personally or through their agents.
Background and Escalation
The lawsuit follows a tense confrontation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio over an unauthorized change of her Senate seat on February 20. This incident reportedly added to the growing tension between both lawmakers.
In response to the clash, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions has been tasked with investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan’s alleged “disorderly conduct,” with a report due in three weeks.
Despite the Senate inquiry, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains resolute in her pursuit of justice, insisting that the defamatory remarks not only harmed her public image but also undermined her dignity among her peers.
No date has yet been set for the court hearing, but the case is already shaping up to be a landmark legal battle within Nigeria’s political sphere.
