Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio on Friday filed a massive ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, PDP senator representing Kogi Central.
This suit, filed before the FCT High Court, Abuja, sets the stage for a major legal battle.
The core of Akpabio’s claim is that Sen.Akpoti-Uduaghan’s televised and online interviews constituted a “calculated smear campaign” accusing him of sexual harassment.
Akpabio’s legal team contends that the widespread publication of these allegations resulted in the Senate President suffering “national humiliation, ridicule, and grave reputational injury.”
In addition to the substantial financial damages, Akpabio is seeking several sweeping remedies from the court:
* The deletion of all online content containing the claims.
* Compulsory, repeated apologies to be aired on national TV, radio, and digital platforms.
The case is now moving forward after initial difficulties in serving the defendant.
Court records confirm that on November 6, 2025, a judge authorized substituted service via the Clerk of the National Assembly, allowing the legal process to proceed.
In her response, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed the receipt of the lawsuit on Friday, adding that she welcomes the legal battle—noting that she was previously prevented from presenting her petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges because Senate leadership claimed a related matter was already in court.
Persecondnews recalls that Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously asserted that the internal management of the issue within the Senate served to shield Akpabio from proper scrutiny.
She now welcomes the lawsuit, stating the court offers the necessary platform she lacked previously. “I’m ready to prove everything,” she said bluntly.
The Senator affirmed her intention to present evidence of sexual harassment, claiming that her subsequent refusal to comply triggered “sustained political intimidation and retaliation.”
She delivered an unambiguous message to the Senate President: “See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”
The matter now heads to full litigation, with both sides preparing their defense, including compiling witness lists, documents, and media evidence.
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