Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed two lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accusing her of defamation and violating her fundamental human rights.
The legal battle stems from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent claims that her challenges in the Senate began after she rejected alleged sexual advances from the Senate President.
In the first case (Suit No: CV/814/25), filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, Mrs. Akpabio argued that the senator’s statements had subjected her and her children to emotional distress and fear for their safety.
She requested the court to rule that the allegations violated her right to dignity as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
She is demanding ₦250 billion in damages and a permanent injunction to prevent further statements from Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a separate defamation case (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs. Akpabio refuted the senator’s allegations against her husband, calling them false and malicious.
She claimed that the accusations had brought her family into public disrepute. As part of her demands, she is seeking ₦1 billion in damages and a court order compelling Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a public apology in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers.
“The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” Mrs. Akpabio stated in her court filings.
The court has not yet scheduled a hearing for the cases.
Tensions between the lawmakers escalated after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Senate seat was reassigned without prior notice, prompting her to protest during a plenary session.
The Senate later referred the issue to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imaseun of Edo South, for investigation, with a two-week deadline for its report.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick.
Her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, argued that a Facebook post by Patrick titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” contained derogatory remarks implying that she viewed her Senate position as an opportunity to showcase makeup and revealing outfits. Giwa contended that the statement damaged her reputation among colleagues and the public.
The controversy intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where she reiterated her claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President.
She alleged that colleagues had warned her to accept the seat change, suggesting it was part of a broader plot against her.
Mrs. Akpabio has strongly denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless and false.
