Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over alleged defamatory statements.
The legal action follows claims by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, that she faced challenges in the Senate after allegedly rejecting unwanted advances from the Senate President.
In the first lawsuit (Suit No: CV/814/25), Mrs. Akpabio accuses the senator of making damaging remarks that have caused emotional distress to her and her children. She argues that these statements violate her right to dignity as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. She is seeking ₦250 billion in damages and a restraining order to prevent further accusations.
The second case (Suit No: CV/816/25) challenges Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against her husband, which Mrs. Akpabio describes as false and harmful to their family’s reputation.
The dispute escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her Senate seat, briefly disrupting a plenary session. The matter has been referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which has been given two weeks to investigate.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan has also filed a counter-lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, demanding ₦100 billion in damages for defamation. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, alleges that Patrick made a defamatory Facebook post suggesting the senator was only concerned with appearances.
The controversy deepened after Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where she reiterated her allegations and claimed that some colleagues had warned her about a plot against her.
Meanwhile, Unoma Akpabio has denied all allegations, dismissing them as baseless. “My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she stated.