Natasha Sues Akpabio for Defamation, Seeks N100.3bn in Damages

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of defamation and...

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has taken legal action against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of defamation and demanding N100.3 billion in damages.

The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as co-defendants.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s grievances stem from a controversial Senate reshuffle that reassigned her seat following the defection of opposition members to the majority wing. Her resistance to the relocation led to a confrontation with Akpabio.

In the suit, marked CV/737/25, her lawyer, Victor Giwa, alleged that Akpabio and his aide made and published defamatory statements on Facebook. One such statement, titled "Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?", reportedly claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was merely about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”

Giwa argued that the remark was defamatory, provocative, and damaging to her reputation among colleagues and the public. He is seeking a court declaration that the statement was intended to demean and discredit her.

Additionally, the lawsuit requests a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their associates from making further defamatory statements against her on any platform.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is also demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million to cover litigation costs.