N5 Billion Lawsuit: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Sues Senator Nwaebonyi Over Defamatory Claims

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has taken legal action against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, filing a N5 billion defamation suit over what she describes as damaging and untrue statements targeting her character.

The lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, is being handled by her legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) M. J. Numa. Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Nwaebonyi of making false allegations about her personal life, including claims that she has six children by different men.

She insists the statements were “baseless, malicious, and intended to tarnish her image.” The accusations reportedly came during a media interview, where Nwaebonyi also allegedly referred to her as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “blackmailer.” He further claimed that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, only married her under pressure.

According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the remarks were deliberately made to damage her reputation and justify her six-month suspension from the Senate, as well as to influence public opinion regarding a petition she has pending before the chamber.

As part of the suit, she is demanding N5 billion in damages, a formal public retraction and apology, and a court order barring Nwaebonyi from making any further defamatory remarks about her.