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March 1, 2025
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimising her in the Senate because she rejected his alleged sexual advances.
Mrs Unoma Godswill Akpabio, wife of the President of the Senate, has taken legal action against Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following allegations of sexual harassment against her husband.
She filed fundamental rights and defamation lawsuits at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, seeking N250 billion in general damages.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of victimising her in the Senate because she rejected his alleged sexual advances.
She had claimed that Akpabio made multiple advances toward her, including in the presence of her husband.
However, Mrs Akpabio dismissed these allegations, stating that Natasha was "lying and creating content for her personal gains."
At a press conference, Mrs Akpabio announced her legal action against the senator. The fundamental rights suit (Suit No: CV/814/25) was filed under Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
She is seeking a court declaration that the allegations made by Natasha on the Senate floor on 20th February 2025 and during an interview with Arise News TV violated her fundamental rights.
Mrs Akpabio is also requesting a perpetual injunction preventing Natasha from making further "inciteful, scandalous, and spiteful statements" that she claims have caused emotional and psychological distress to her and her children.
Additionally, she seeks an order awarding N250 billion in exemplary, punitive, aggravated, and general damages.
In a separate defamation lawsuit (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs Akpabio argues that Natasha’s claims on national television damaged her family’s reputation.
She is requesting a declaration that the allegations were made without proof and have brought her family "into disrepute and opprobrium."
The lawsuit demands that Natasha issue a formal written retraction and an unconditional apology, to be published in The Guardian and This Day newspapers.
Furthermore, Mrs Akpabio is seeking N1billion in punitive and exemplary damages and a perpetual injunction restraining Natasha from making any further defamatory statements against her family.
The legal battle follows heated exchanges in the Senate and the media, with both parties standing by their respective claims.