Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, over what she described as “malicious and false statements” made during a recent television interview.
The suit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on April 7, 2025, is marked Suit No: W/1359:25 and was lodged by her legal counsel led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Jonathan Numa.
The legal action follows remarks made by Nwebonyi on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television program aired on March 6, 2025. During the interview, Nwebonyi reportedly described Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” “habitual blackmailer,” and alleged that she is the “mother of six from different men.”
Reacting to the statements, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the claims as entirely baseless and deeply injurious. “These defamatory words were clearly calculated to malign my character and diminish my standing in the public eye,” she said.
According to the court filings, the senator insists that she has only four children from two previous marriages, contrary to the accusations. She also denied claims that she coerced her current husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, into marriage, stating emphatically that their union was lawful and built on mutual respect and love.
“There is absolutely no truth to the claim that I forced my husband into marriage,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “Our relationship is one of mutual understanding, and such fabrications are not only hurtful but damaging to my family and my career.”
Her legal team argues that Nwebonyi’s comments have caused “serious emotional distress, public ridicule, and reputational damage,” particularly among her constituents and political allies.
The senator is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
- A declaration that Nwebonyi’s statements are false, defamatory, and legally actionable;
- A perpetual injunction restraining Nwebonyi and his associates from repeating or disseminating the defamatory statements;
- A public retraction of the claims, to be broadcast on the same media platforms where the original remarks were made;
- A formal apology published in two major national newspapers;
- N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for reputational harm and emotional suffering;
- Post-judgment interest at 10% per annum until the full sum is paid.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that the nature of Nwebonyi’s statements went far beyond political criticism, accusing him of launching a calculated attempt to smear her name and derail her political contributions.
“This is not just an attack on my character; it’s a dangerous precedent that must be addressed legally,” she stated.
