Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sues Senate President Godswill Akpabio for N100 Billion Over Defamation

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 February 25, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to Akpabio, as co-defendants.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal action follows a confrontation with the Senate President after her seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the majority wing.

According to court documents, the senator’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, claims that Akpabio and his aide made defamatory statements about her, which were published on Facebook. One of the posts, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, allegedly mocked her appearance and questioned her legislative competence.

Giwa argued that the statements were “defamatory, provocative, and disparaging,” damaging his client’s reputation among her colleagues and the public.

He stated, “A DECLARATION that the words, ‘It is bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,’ used and written by the third defendant at the prompting of the first and second defendants, is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection toward the claimant.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan is also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory statements against her on any platform.

She further asked the court to order the defendants to pay her N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.