UPDATE: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio’s Wife Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Senator Natasha Akpoti, Seeks N250bn Damages
Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed multiple lawsuits against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, over alleged defamatory comments and violation of fundamental human rights.
This follows recent claims by Akpoti-Uduaghan that she was sexually harassed by Akpabio.
On Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an interview on Arise TV, alleged that the Senate President made sexual advances at her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.
In a defamation Suit No: CV/816/25, Mrs Akpabio challenged the senator’s claim that her husband made sexual advances towards her.
She described the allegations as malicious, and damaging, saying they had brought her family into disrepute and public shame.
The Senate President’s wife added that her husband is disciplined and that the senator’s claims were “lies.”
In a fundamental rights suit (Suit No: CV/814/25) filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Ekaette said the “scandalous and salacious” comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan have caused her and her children emotional and psychological trauma, leaving them in fear for their lives.
Akpabio’s wife asked the court to restrain Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further “spiteful” statements that infringe on her fundamental human rights.
“AN ORDER awarding the sum of N250,000,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira only) as exemplary, punitive, aggravated and general damages against the Respondent for her infringement of the fundamental rights of the Applicant alongside,”
the fundamental rights suit reads.
“Such further or other Orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
Ekaette said the Kogi senator’s comments “damaged the reputation of the claimant and indeed her entire family, bringing them into disrepute and opprobrium.”
She asked the court to mandate Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an apology to her family and publish it in two national newspapers.
“AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT compelling the Defendant to pay to the Claimant the sum of ₦1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira only) as punitive and exemplary damages for the ruinous effect of the Defendant’s defamatory words on the Claimant’s family’s reputation,”
a portion of the suit reads.
“AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the Defendant from further uttering any defamatory words or causing to be uttered or spread, any defamatory words against the reputation of the Claimant’s family.”
The Senate President has yet to publicly comment on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations.
However, the ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has waded into the ongoing standoff between the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Natasha.
In a statement posted on his official X page on Saturday, Saraki urged those directly and indirectly involved in the ongoing faceoff to prioritise the protection of the Senate as an institution and not individuals.
He said,
“I have watched from afar the recent developments in the Senate involving the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senator from Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
“This situation saddens me because of its negative impact on the integrity, sanctity, image, and public perception of the institution. I believe that everyone who has been associated with the National Assembly—whether as a leader, member, or staff—should strive to protect these values, which make the institution the foremost among the three arms of government.
“For these reasons, I believe that both parties in this dispute, as well as their supporters inside and outside the chamber, should be mindful of the impact of their actions, inactions, reactions, claims, and counterclaims.
“They must ensure that nothing is done to tarnish the institution. The constitution, the country’s laws, Senate rules, and parliamentary conventions and practices should be strictly followed in resolving this matter.”