The suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has launched a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations that she has six children with different men
Represented by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. M. J. Numa, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan called Nwaebonyi’s claims false and an intentional effort to damage her reputation.
In her petition to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she asserted that Nwaebonyi, who serves as the Senator for Ebonyi North Central, had severely harmed her reputation and caused her significant distress and embarrassment.
During a televised interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily” programme on March 6, 2025, Nwaebonyi allegedly labelled her a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer,” making these remarks without any lawful justification.
Aside from the claim of having six children with different men, Senator Nwaebonyi also alleged that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
“These statements were widely disseminated through national broadcasts and multiple online and social media platforms, thus ensuring they reached a vast audience,” the claimant asserted, reiterating that the claims were false, malicious, and aimed at tarnishing her image.
“The claimant contends that these statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, are intended to portray her as someone who habitually extorts money from others through dishonest means, demands benefits in exchange for not disclosing compromising information, seeks relationships with men solely for financial gain, routinely lies, and uses threats of damaging information to manipulate others.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Nwaebonyi made these defamatory statements with full knowledge of their falsehood, intending to discredit her in a bid to justify her illegal suspension from the Senate.
“Furthermore, as a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the defendant’s reckless statements were designed to bias public perception against the claimant’s petition before the Senate.”
As a result, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently serving a six-month suspension, is seeking a court order for a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendant, his associates, and anyone connected to him from further publishing or facilitating the dissemination of the alleged defamatory statements.
In suit number CV/1259/25, she has also requested an order compelling Nwaebonyi to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms where they were originally published and to issue an unqualified apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and electronically, within seven days of the court’s judgement.
Additionally, she seeks an award of N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional suffering caused by the false and malicious statements.
She has also requested post-judgment interest on the compensation awarded at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of the judgement until the debt is fully paid.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that Nwaebonyi’s portrayal of her as a mother of six from different men was unfounded, malicious, and recklessly damaging.
“The claimant serves as an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring female leaders, speaking truth to power.”
“Far from undermining opportunities for women in politics as falsely claimed, she motivates women to be courageous in their pursuit of political engagement and good governance,” she added.
No date has yet been set for the hearing of the case.
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Natasha Sues Nwaebonyi For N5bn Over Libel
The suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has launched a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations that she has six children with different men
Represented by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. M. J. Numa, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan called Nwaebonyi’s claims false and an intentional effort to damage her reputation.
In her petition to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she asserted that Nwaebonyi, who serves as the Senator for Ebonyi North Central, had severely harmed her reputation and caused her significant distress and embarrassment.
During a televised interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily” programme on March 6, 2025, Nwaebonyi allegedly labelled her a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer,” making these remarks without any lawful justification.
Aside from the claim of having six children with different men, Senator Nwaebonyi also alleged that her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
“These statements were widely disseminated through national broadcasts and multiple online and social media platforms, thus ensuring they reached a vast audience,” the claimant asserted, reiterating that the claims were false, malicious, and aimed at tarnishing her image.
“The claimant contends that these statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, are intended to portray her as someone who habitually extorts money from others through dishonest means, demands benefits in exchange for not disclosing compromising information, seeks relationships with men solely for financial gain, routinely lies, and uses threats of damaging information to manipulate others.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that Nwaebonyi made these defamatory statements with full knowledge of their falsehood, intending to discredit her in a bid to justify her illegal suspension from the Senate.
“Furthermore, as a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the defendant’s reckless statements were designed to bias public perception against the claimant’s petition before the Senate.”
As a result, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently serving a six-month suspension, is seeking a court order for a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendant, his associates, and anyone connected to him from further publishing or facilitating the dissemination of the alleged defamatory statements.
In suit number CV/1259/25, she has also requested an order compelling Nwaebonyi to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms where they were originally published and to issue an unqualified apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and electronically, within seven days of the court’s judgement.
Additionally, she seeks an award of N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional suffering caused by the false and malicious statements.
She has also requested post-judgment interest on the compensation awarded at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of the judgement until the debt is fully paid.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that Nwaebonyi’s portrayal of her as a mother of six from different men was unfounded, malicious, and recklessly damaging.
“The claimant serves as an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring female leaders, speaking truth to power.”
“Far from undermining opportunities for women in politics as falsely claimed, she motivates women to be courageous in their pursuit of political engagement and good governance,” she added.
No date has yet been set for the hearing of the case.
Get your friends informed also, Share!
Share
Previous articleEnugu Govt Launches Free Tech Skills Training Programme for Job Seekers
Next articleCritics Can’t Stop Senator Orji Kalu— Rev. Elekwa
RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR
Gov Mbah in London: Africa’s Economic Renaissance Lies in Extensive Trade, not Aid or Charity
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