Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
The lawsuit, marked as Suit No: W/1359:25, was lodged at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on April 7, 2025, by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Jonathan Numa.
The suit comes after Nwebonyi made damaging remarks about Akpoti-Uduaghan during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily program on March 6, 2025.
In the interview, Nwebonyi branded her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer,” accusations Akpoti-Uduaghan argues are entirely false, malicious, and defamatory.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team contends that these baseless statements have severely harmed her reputation and caused her significant emotional distress, embarrassment, and public ridicule.
The senator argued that the defamatory words were calculated to tarnish her character and diminish her public standing, especially in the eyes of her supporters and the wider public.
Nwebonyi allegedly claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan is a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer,” as well as an alleged “mother of six from different men.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that she has four children from two previous marriages, with no involvement in the claims made by Nwebonyi.
Nwebonyi allegedly insinuated that Akpoti-Uduaghan coerced her current husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, into marriage under duress, an accusation she vehemently denies. She insisted that her marriage was lawful and based on mutual respect, not coercion or extortion.
Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks the following reliefs from the court: “A declaration that Nwebonyi’s statements are false, defamatory, and actionable.
“A perpetual injunction barring Nwebonyi and his associates from further disseminating defamatory content.
“A public retraction of the false statements, to be published on the same platforms where the allegations were made, along with a formal apology in two major national newspapers.
“N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the harm caused to her reputation, emotional distress, and public embarrassment.
“Post-judgment interest on the damages at a rate of 10% per annum until fully paid.”
The senator emphasised that Nwebonyi’s alleged falsehoods have had a direct and harmful impact on her reputation, both in political circles and among her supporters.
She said that the malicious nature of these statements goes beyond mere criticism, instead representing a deliberate attempt to undermine her integrity and discredit her contributions to society and politics.
