Senator Natasha slams N100bn suit on Akpabio over alleged defamation

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, alleging defamation following a dispute over the reassignment of her Senate seat.

The Kogi lawmaker raised concerns after her seat was reassigned during a reshuffle prompted by opposition members defecting to the majority wing. Her resistance reportedly led to a confrontation with the Senate President.

In a suit filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, Akpabio, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Mfon Patrick, a Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, were listed as the second and third defendants. The case, marked CV/737/25, was filed through Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Victor Giwa.

The lawsuit alleges that defamatory statements, published on Facebook by Patrick at the prompting of Akpabio, tarnished her reputation.

The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” included a remark suggesting Akpoti-Uduaghan believed her role as a lawmaker was merely about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”

Giwa argued that the statements were defamatory, provocative, and damaging to his client’s public image and professional standing.

The senator is seeking a court declaration affirming the defamatory nature of the remarks, alongside an order of perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants and their associates from making or publishing similar statements in the future.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is also demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million to cover litigation costs.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE