Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over claims that she had six children with different men.
The lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is led by her legal team headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), M. J. Numa. Akpoti-Uduaghan described the statements made by Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District, as entirely false, malicious, and intended to damage her reputation.
According to court documents, the defamatory remarks were made on March 6, 2025, during a televised interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” programme.
During the broadcast, Nwaebonyi allegedly referred to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer,” while further alleging that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
“These statements were widely disseminated both on national television and across online platforms,” the claimant noted, adding that the false narrative had caused significant reputational harm and emotional distress.
In her statement of claim, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the remarks were not only untrue but were strategically aimed at tarnishing her image and undermining her political credibility.
She also alleged that the defamatory comments were meant to justify her six-month suspension from the Senate and prejudice public opinion against her pending petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, of which Nwaebonyi is a member.
The suit, marked CV/1259/25, seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from making or publishing further defamatory statements about her.
She also requests a public retraction of the comments on the same platforms used for the original publication, along with an unreserved apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers, both in print and electronic form.
Furthermore, Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as post-judgment interest at the rate of 10% per annum until the full settlement of the judgment sum.
She emphasized in her claim that her portrayal as a woman with six children from different fathers was not only fabricated but designed to discredit her accomplishments and discourage women from pursuing political leadership roles.
“The claimant is not undermining women in politics as alleged, but rather paving the way and encouraging women to boldly engage in governance and political leadership,” the statement added.
As of the time of reporting, the court has not yet fixed a date for the hearing of the matter.