The Federal Government has taken a decisive legal step against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, dragging him before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja over alleged defamatory statements targeted at Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a five-count criminal charge marked CR/547/2025, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohamed Babadoko Abubakar, filed the case on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), accusing Senator Nwebonyi of making “malicious and injurious” remarks capable of damaging Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation.
According to the charge sheet dated September 11, 2025, the alleged offences occurred between March 3 and March 29, 2025, when Nwebonyi—who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District—appeared on several national television platforms, including Arise TV, Channels Television, TVC News, and News Central TV.
The prosecution alleged that during those appearances, Nwebonyi launched “coordinated verbal attacks” against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, branding her “a habitual accuser,” “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon,” and “a known blackmailer.” He allegedly went further to make personal remarks about her private and family life.
The Federal Government described the comments as “false, malicious, and calculated to expose Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”
Each of the five counts accuses Nwebonyi of intentionally making harmful imputations against another person’s character, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, and punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
Count One of the charge specifically referenced the senator’s interview on Arise News, where he allegedly made several disparaging remarks “knowing or having reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation” of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
If found guilty, the offence carries a penalty of imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The case is expected to come up for hearing soon at the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi will be required to take his plea and respond to the allegations.
Meanwhile, sources close to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan hailed the move as “a bold step toward curbing political defamation and restoring dignity to public discourse,” stressing that freedom of speech must not be abused to malign others for political gain.
Senator Nwebonyi, however, is yet to issue an official response to the charges.
By Politics Nigeria
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