Tensions within the Nigerian Senate have escalated as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi-North Senatorial District, has filed a staggering N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick. The legal action stems from an alleged defamatory Facebook post that Akpoti-Uduaghan claims was orchestrated to tarnish her reputation.
The lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, seeks not only massive financial compensation but also a public apology and a court injunction restraining further defamatory publications against her.
Allegations and Legal Claims
In Suit No. CU/737/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan accuses Akpabio and Patrick of publishing false and damaging statements about her on social media. The controversial post, allegedly authored by Mfon Patrick under the direction of Akpabio, carried the headline:
> “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”
The post went on to state:
> “It is bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about ‘pancaking’ her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.”
Describing the statement as defamatory, sexist, and degrading, Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that the post was designed to discredit her integrity, subject her to public ridicule, and undermine her political standing.
Demands in the Lawsuit
Represented by her legal team, Victor Giwa & Associates, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
1. A declaration that the Facebook post was defamatory and has lowered her esteem in the eyes of the public.
2. An order compelling the defendants to issue a public apology, to be published in a widely circulated national newspaper.
3. A perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making any further defamatory statements.
4. N100 billion in general damages for the harm caused to her reputation.
5. N300 million as the cost of legal action.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio. Their rocky relationship has been marred by incidents that suggest targeted attempts to undermine her authority in the Senate.
On February 20, 2025, during a Senate session, Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seat had been reassigned without prior notice—a move she interpreted as an attempt to reduce her visibility and stifle her contributions. When she refused to accept the reassignment, a heated exchange ensued between her and Akpabio, prompting the sergeant-at-arms to intervene.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno defended the reassignment, stating that it was due to changes in party affiliations among senators. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that it was a deliberate effort to marginalize her.
In July 2024, during a plenary session, Akpoti-Uduaghan faced another controversial moment when Akpabio reprimanded her for speaking without formal recognition. In what many saw as a sexist and condescending remark, Akpabio told her:
> “This is not a nightclub.”
The comment sparked widespread backlash, with women’s rights activists and political commentators condemning it as demeaning and inappropriate. Amid mounting criticism, Akpabio later issued a public apology, insisting that he meant no disrespect to women.
Observers believe that these repeated clashes point to a deeper power struggle within the Senate, where Akpoti-Uduaghan—known for her outspoken stance on governance and transparency—is being deliberately sidelined.
Her defamation lawsuit could further strain relations within the Senate, especially if it exposes internal rivalries and power dynamics at play in Nigeria’s legislative body.
As the legal battle unfolds, many are watching to see whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawsuit will set a precedent for accountability in Nigeria’s political sphere—or if it will simply deepen the existing divide within the Senate.
With a N100 billion claim, a reputation at stake, and political careers on the line, this case is poised to be one of the most explosive legal battles in recent Nigerian politics.
PIONEER NEWS 