For allegedly defaming Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during a March 6, 2025, interview on Channels Television, Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi is facing a N5 billion lawsuit.
The suit, filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan through her lawyer, Mr. Michael Numa (SAN) at a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to declare as false and malicious, statements made by Nwaebonyi.
As stated in the lawsuit, Akpoti-Uduaghan said Nwaebonyi described her as a “gold digger, habitual liar, and habitual blackmailer” during the interview.
Among other things, she requested the court to declare false, malicious, and defamatory the claims that she is a mother of six children from different men.
The senator said that such remarks undermine her reputation as a role model for women aspiring to enter politics.
The suit stated: “The defendant’s characterisation of the claimant as a ‘mother of six from different men’ is baseless, malicious, and reckless.
“The claimant is an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring women for speaking truth to power.
“The claimant is not tarnishing the chances of women in politics as falsely alleged. Rather, she is inspiring women to be bold in their pursuit of political aspirations and good governance.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Nwaebonyi’s defamatory statements have severely damaged her reputation and caused significant public embarrassment.
She is seeking a court order to restrain Nwaebonyi from making further defamatory statements against her.
The senator is asking the court to direct Nwaebonyi to pay N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the false, malicious, and injurious statements made against her.
She requested that the court order Nwaebonyi to retract the defamatory statements on the same platform where they were made and issue a full apology.
The court filing seeks “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies, or anyone acting on his behalf from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained of, or any other defamatory statements concerning the claimant.”
The document further requests “an order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms used to make the allegations and to tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and online, circulated nationwide, within seven days from the date of judgment.”
It also calls for “an order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of N5 billion as aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the claimant for the false, malicious, and injurious statements that have caused the claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”
She also sought, “an order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully paid.”
Persecondnews recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan has initiated several court cases against the Senate and some of its principal officers after they suspended her for six months without pay for her disorderly conduct in the floor of the house.
Persecondnews reported that the embattled senator had filed a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio at a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, February 25, claiming that Akpabio tarnished her image with a defamatory Facebook post.
Also, Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 13 filed a contempt charge against Akpabio, Clerk of the National Assembly, and Sen. Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.
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