Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, alleging defamation and violation of fundamental human rights.
The legal action follows recent assertions by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, that her Senate issues began with her refusal to have a sexual connection with the Senate President.
Mrs Akpabio accused the senator of making false and scandalous statements that caused emotional pain for her and her children, putting them in danger.
She requested that the court deem the utterances a breach of her right to dignity under the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Akpabio is demanding ₦250 billion compensation and a perpetual injunction to prevent Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any harmful claims.
Mrs Akpabio filed a separate defamation suit, No. CV/816/25, challenging the senator’s assertion that her husband made sexual attempts on her.
She denounced the charges as untrue, spiteful, and hurtful, claiming they had brought her family into contempt and public shame.
The plaintiff requested that Akpoti-Uduaghan apologize publicly in The Guardian and ThisDay, as well as pay N1 billion in damages.
“The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” Mrs. Akpabio said in the suit.
The court is yet to set a date for the hearing of both lawsuits.
The disagreement between the two lawmakers began when Akpoti-Uduaghan realized that her seat in the Senate chamber had been altered without her knowledge.
She criticized the action, producing a small disruption during a plenary session.
The Senate later sent her matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imaseun from Edo South, for examination.
The committee was given two weeks to produce their report.
Akpoti-Uduaghan sued Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation, seeking ₦100 billion in damages.
According to her lawyer, Victor Giwa, the alleged defamatory statement was posted on Patrick’s Facebook page under the subject ‘Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?
The article accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of believing that being a senator involved wearing makeup and transparent clothing to the Senate.
Giwa described the statement as inflammatory and hurtful, claiming it had harmed his client’s reputation among her coworkers and the public.
The matter escalated on Friday when Akpoti-Uduaghan went on Arise Television’s Morning Show and accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.
She stated that some of her coworkers had cautioned her to accept the seat move because it was part of a conspiracy against her.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s wife disputed the charges, calling them false and unjustified.
“My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she said.
