Suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has initiated a N5 billion legal action against fellow senator, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over what she described as defamatory and baseless claims made against her character.
In a suit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her legal counsel led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) M.J. Numa, accused Nwaebonyi of making damaging remarks during a live appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” on March 6, 2025.
During the broadcast, Nwaebonyi—who serves as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and represents Ebonyi North—allegedly described Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and claimed she had six children with different men. He also alleged that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, had been coerced into marrying her.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that these comments, widely aired on television and circulated across various online platforms, were intentionally made to damage her public image and mislead the public.
She noted that the remarks caused her significant emotional trauma, reputational damage, and public ridicule.
She further argued that the statements were part of an attempt to discredit her and justify her suspension from the Senate, especially since Nwaebonyi is a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions—where a petition against her is currently pending.
Among her requests, Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking a court order to stop the defendant from making further defamatory statements.
She also wants the court to compel Nwaebonyi to issue a formal retraction and public apology through the same media platforms and in at least two widely read national newspapers within seven days of judgment.
The senator is also asking for N5 billion in compensation for what she termed “malicious and injurious” claims, as well as post-judgment interest at 10% annually until the compensation is fully paid.
She insisted that the accusations against her were entirely false, emphasizing that she remains a voice of encouragement for women in politics and leadership.
“The intention behind those statements is clear—they are meant to destroy my integrity and discourage other women from taking bold steps into governance,” she said.
As of now, the court has not yet assigned a date for the hearing of the case.