posted 25th February 2025
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sues Senate President Akpabio for Defamation, Demands N1.3bn in Damages
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeking N1.3 billion in damages over alleged defamatory statements made against her.
In the suit marked CV/737/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, claimed that Akpabio and his associates made derogatory remarks about her, which were subsequently published by an aide of the Senate President on Facebook. The post, titled *"Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?", included statements suggesting that the senator believed being a lawmaker was merely about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that these comments were defamatory, intended to subject her to public ridicule and diminish her reputation among her colleagues and the public. She is seeking a declaration that the statements were defamatory, as well as an order restraining the defendants and their associates from making further similar remarks.
She further urged the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction preventing the defendants from publishing or causing to be published any defamatory statements against her. Additionally, she is demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million as litigation costs.
This legal battle comes amid growing tensions in the Senate, as she has been referred to the Senate Disciplinary Committee following a seating dispute between her and Senate President -Akpabio.
