Akpabio Files ₦200bn Defamation Suit Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

According to a report by The Guardian Nigeria on Friday, December 5, 2025, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has filed a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, marking the beginning of a major legal confrontation between the two lawmakers.

Court documents submitted to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) claim that Senator Akpoti’s televised and online statements accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment were part of a deliberate effort to damage his reputation. The filings state that the allegations, shared widely across multiple media platforms, subjected the Senate President to “public humiliation, ridicule, and significant harm” to his personal and professional image.

Akpabio is seeking ₦200 billion in damages, the removal of all online content containing the allegations, and public apologies to be broadcast on national television, radio, and digital platforms.

The suit progressed after initial attempts to serve Senator Akpoti proved unsuccessful. On November 6, 2025, a judge authorised substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Senator Akpoti confirmed on Friday that she has received the lawsuit. She said the court process now gives her an opportunity to present the claims she previously attempted to submit to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges. According to her, the committee had declined to hear her petition, citing an existing court case.

“I’m ready to prove everything,” she said, insisting that she was sexually harassed and that her refusal to comply with alleged advances triggered political intimidation. Addressing Akpabio directly, she added: “See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”