Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeking N1.3 billion in damages.
The dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate seat was reassigned following a reshuffle caused by opposition lawmakers switching to the majority. She contested the move, which led to a confrontation with Akpabio.
On February 25, 2025, she filed a suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, naming Akpabio, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Mfon Patrick, the Senate President’s Senior Legislative Aide, as defendants. The case, registered as CV/737/25, alleges that defamatory remarks were made by Akpabio and subsequently published by Patrick on Facebook.
The contentious post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, included a statement claiming Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, argued that the remarks were defamatory, damaging her reputation among colleagues and the public. The suit seeks a court declaration that the statement was offensive and intended to incite ridicule and disaffection toward her.
Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan requested a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants and their associates from making further defamatory statements against her.
She is also demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.
