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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sues Fellow Senator Nwaebonyi For N5bn Over Defamation
He must be held accountable for his falsehoods,” says Kogi Central lawmaker
Abuja, Nigeria — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague in the upper chamber, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central, over what she describes as “false, malicious, and damaging” statements made during a live television interview.
The lawsuit, filed on April 7, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, stems from remarks Nwaebonyi allegedly made during a March 6 appearance on Channels Television.
According to court documents, Senator Nwaebonyi referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer.” He also allegedly claimed that she is a “mother of six from different men.”
“These statements were not only false and reckless, but they were made with the intent to destroy my reputation and reduce my public standing,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated through her legal counsel.
“As a woman in Nigerian politics, I have faced countless challenges, but this deliberate character assassination cannot go unchallenged.”
The suit seeks several declarations and reliefs from the court, including: A formal declaration that Senator Nwaebonyi’s statements were defamatory and not protected by the right to free speech.
“A perpetual injunction restraining him from making any further defamatory comments and a court order compelling Nwaebonyi to publish a public apology and retraction in at least two national newspapers.
“Payment of N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, N100 million as the cost of the suit and post-judgment interest of 10% per annum until the damages are fully paid.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team emphasized the lasting damage the statements have caused to her reputation, noting that as a public servant and a prominent advocate for women in leadership, her image and credibility are vital to her work.
“She is a role model to many young women across Nigeria. These unsubstantiated and malicious remarks seek to not only tarnish her image but also discourage women’s participation in politics,” her lead counsel said in a statement.
In her own remarks to reporters outside the court, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan declared, “Freedom of speech does not equate to freedom to defame. Senator Nwaebonyi must be held accountable for spreading lies about me on national television. This is not just about me—it’s about setting a precedent that slander, especially in the political space, has consequences.”
