Legal Fireworks: Natasha Akpoti Battles Fellow Senator Nwaebonyi Over Damaging Allegations

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has filed a ₦5.1 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Filed under Suit No: CV/1359/25 at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the case was initiated through her legal team led by Michael Jonathan Numa (SAN). The senator claims that during an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program on March 6, 2025, Senator Nwaebonyi made defamatory remarks, referring to her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.”

Senator Natasha described these remarks as “false, malicious, and defamatory,” asserting they were made to damage her reputation and have already subjected her to public ridicule and emotional distress.

The suit, filed on April 7, 2025, through a Writ of Summons under Order 2 Rule 2 of the FCT High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2025, requests several declarations and reliefs, including that the comments made by Nwaebonyi do not fall within the protected right to freedom of speech and expression.

Among her prayers, the senator seeks a judicial declaration that:

• The statements made on March 6, 2025, on Channels TV, branding her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer” were false, malicious, and defamatory.

• The remarks accusing her of being “a mother of six from different men,” made during a March 3, 2025 Arise TV appearance, were injurious to her personal and public image.

• Other statements made via YouTube videos—including allegations that she blackmailed her current husband into marriage, and that she has a history of sexual harassment accusations—were defamatory and intended to bring her into public disrepute.

One of the cited YouTube links, here, includes a statement allegedly from Nwaebonyi:

“This woman is spoiling the game for women who want to enter politics. Are you the only woman in Nigeria, Senator Natasha!? What is wrong with you?”

Another statement from a News Central TV report on March 27, 2025, also quoted in the suit, includes:

“Even her present husband married her under duress… the marriage was another product of blackmail.”

Senator Natasha argues that all these remarks are not only unfounded but were made with malicious intent to damage her character, dignity, and political career.

She is asking the court to declare these statements as defamatory, unjustified, and harmful to her standing both within Nigeria and internationally.