Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, has filed a N5 billion lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central over alleged defamatory remarks.
The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja through her legal counsel, Michael Numa, targets statements made by Nwaebonyi during a Channels Television interview on March 6, 2025.
According to the suit, Nwaebonyi reportedly labeled Akpoti-Uduaghan a “gold digger, habitual liar, and habitual blackmailer” and accused her of being a “mother of six from different men.”
Describing the statements as false and malicious, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the comments were intended to damage her reputation and image as a role model for women in politics.
“The defendant’s characterisation of the claimant as a ‘mother of six from different men’ is baseless, malicious, and reckless,” the court document states.
“The claimant is an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring women for speaking truth to power. The claimant is not tarnishing the chances of women in politics as falsely alleged. Rather, she is inspiring women to be bold in their pursuit of political aspirations and good governance.”
Natasha contends that the remarks caused her public embarrassment, reputational damage, and emotional distress.
She is asking the court to restrain Nwaebonyi from making further defamatory comments, compel him to retract his statements on the same platform where they were made, and publish an unreserved apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers.
In addition, she seeks an “order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies, or anyone acting on his behalf from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained of, or any other defamatory statements concerning the claimant.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also asked for “an order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms used to make the allegations and to tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and online, circulated nationwide, within seven days from the date of judgment.”
Furthermore, the suit seeks “an order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of N5 billion as aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the claimant for the false, malicious, and injurious statements that have caused the claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also requested “an order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully paid.”
