Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi. The lawsuit stems from Nwaebonyi’s allegation that she has six children with different men, which Akpoti-Uduaghan claims is false and intended to damage her reputation. In her filing with the Federal Capital Territory High Court, she stated that Nwaebonyi’s remarks have caused her significant distress and harmed her public image. Her legal team is led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. M. J. Numa.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan informed the court that Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, made defamatory statements about her during a televised interview on March 6, 2025. In the interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily,” Nwaebonyi labeled her a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.” In addition to accusing her of having six children with different men, Nwaebonyi alleged that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that these statements were broadcast nationally and widely circulated online, damaging her reputation. She contended that the claims depicted her as someone who extorts money through dishonest means, leverages relationships for financial gain, frequently lies, and threatens to expose damaging information to manipulate others.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan informed the court that Onyekachi Nwaebonyi made false and defamatory statements with the intention of discrediting her, seeking to justify her suspension from the Senate. She highlighted that Nwaebonyi, a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, made these reckless allegations to sway public opinion against her ongoing petition in the Senate.
Currently suspended for six months, Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing further defamatory statements. In her lawsuit (CV/1259/25), she also requests the defendant to retract his remarks on the same platforms where they were made and to issue an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers.
Additionally, she is demanding N5 billion in damages for the distress and harm caused by the false allegations, as well as post-judgment interest of 10% per annum on the awarded amount until fully paid. Akpoti-Uduaghan labeled Nwaebonyi’s claims about her being a mother of six from different men as baseless and damaging, emphasizing that she aims to inspire women in politics, rather than detracting from their opportunities. No hearing date has been set yet.