Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, alleging defamation. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 25 February 2025, also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Senate President’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, as defendants.
The dispute arose after Ms. Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted a reassignment of her Senate seat following a reshuffle. She alleges that defamatory statements were made by Mr. Akpabio and published by his aide on Facebook. Specifically, she cites a post titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” which included a statement suggesting she viewed being a lawmaker as being about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
Ms. Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, argues that this statement is defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, lowering her dignity among her colleagues and the public. The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the statement is defamatory and intended to cause public disdain towards her. She is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing similar defamatory statements about her on any platform. Ms. Akpoti-Uduaghan is demanding ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million for litigation costs.
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