Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio over alleged damaging statements made about her.
The lawsuit, submitted on February 25, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as defendants.
The legal action follows a dispute regarding the reassignment of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate seat after opposition lawmakers defected to the majority wing. The controversy intensified after a Facebook post, allegedly made at Akpabio’s direction, mocked her legislative contributions.
The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, reportedly included remarks suggesting she focused more on appearances than lawmaking.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, described the statement as defamatory and aimed at tarnishing her reputation. She is seeking a court declaration that the statement was defamatory, an injunction preventing further defamatory remarks, N100 billion in general damages, and N300 million in litigation costs.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has previously accused Akpabio of plotting to suspend her from the National Assembly.
