Senator Natasha Sues Akpabio for ₦100bn Over Alleged Defamation

Senator Natasha Sues Akpabio for ₦100bn Over Alleged Defamation

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming that his comments, published by his aide, were damaging to her reputation.

The lawsuit was submitted to the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday, with Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, named as the second and third defendants.

In the suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer Victor Giwa, referenced a post made by Akpabio’s aide on Facebook, titled, “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” The post allegedly criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating she believed being a lawmaker was about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits” to the Senate Chambers.

Giwa argued that the statements made about Akpoti-Uduaghan were defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, causing harm to her reputation in the eyes of her colleagues and the general public.

The claim for relief includes a declaration that the words “it is a bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers,” published by the third defendant at the direction of the first and second defendants, were defamatory and intended to cause public humiliation and disfavor toward the claimant.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is asking the court to issue an injunction preventing the defendants and their associates from publishing similar defamatory statements on any platform.

Additionally, she seeks an order for the defendants to pay ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in litigation costs.

The legal action follows a dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio, which arose after the Kogi lawmaker’s seat was reassigned during a reshuffle. Akpoti-Uduaghan resisted the move, leading to tensions between her and the Senate President. Following the clash, the Kogi senator was referred to the Senate Disciplinary Committee over the seating issue.