The wife of Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Unoma Akpabio, has filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, over alleged defamation and violation of fundamental human rights.
The lawsuits come in response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent claims that her challenges in the Senate began after she rejected alleged sexual advances from Akpabio.
In the first case, filed under Suit No: CV/814/25, Mrs. Akpabio alleges that the senator’s statements caused emotional trauma to her and her children, making them fear for their safety. She is seeking a court declaration that the remarks violated her constitutional rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Additionally, she is demanding ₦250 billion in damages and a permanent injunction preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further defamatory statements.
In a separate defamation suit (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs. Akpabio is challenging Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that the Senate President made inappropriate advances toward her. She described the allegations as false, malicious, and damaging to her family’s reputation.
She is asking the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a public apology in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers and pay ₦1 billion in damages.
“The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” Mrs. Akpabio stated in her legal filing.
The legal dispute stems from a Senate seating arrangement controversy that saw Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat changed without prior notice, leading to a heated exchange in the chamber. The Senate later referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions for investigation.
In response to the developments, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion lawsuit against Akpabio and his legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, over an allegedly defamatory social media post. The post, titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, reportedly mocked her appearance and questioned her commitment to legislative duties.
The controversy escalated further when Akpoti-Uduaghan, during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, accused Akpabio of sexual harassment. She also claimed that some senators had warned her to accept the seat change as part of a larger scheme against her.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Akpabio has strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless.
“My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she said.
A date for the hearing of the lawsuits is yet to be scheduled.
