Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a 1.3 billion naira defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The case was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following alleged defamatory statements made by Akpabio during a Senate session on February 20,2025.
The dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept a reassignment of her seat in the Senate chamber, which followed a reshuffling due to opposition members switching sides. During the confrontation, Akpobio reportedly made comments that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Tochukwu Giwa, described as damaging, provocative, and harmful to her reputation among colleagues and the public.
Reactions have been divided, with a Pan-African women’s advocacy group criticizing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s behavior, calling it inappropriate for a public officeholder. On the other hand, Kogi politician Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka condemned Akpabio’s remarks, accusing him of legislative high-handedness and intimidation.
This lawsuit underscores rising tensions within the 10th Senate and raises concerns about leadership ethic, gender representation, and political power struggles as the outcome of the case could set a precedent for handling defamation disputes in Nigeria politics.
