Two high courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have separately issued summons to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, following lawsuits filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and violations of her fundamental rights.
In suit number FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi granted leave to serve Akpabio with the writ of summons both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President. The court also ordered that Mfon Patrick, a senior aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, be duly served.
The matter was adjourned to June 9 for a report on service. The motion was brought by counsel U.J. Udoh, backed by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a separate case, FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, Justice A.O. Otaluka granted leave for substituted service on Senator Nwaebonyi. The application, dated May 10, was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and a written address. The motion was moved by Michael J. Numa (SAN), who leads Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team. The court adjourned the matter to June 25 for an update on service.
₦5 Billion Defamation Suit Against Nwaebonyi
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦5 billion defamation suit against Nwaebonyi over statements he made during a March 6 interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme. During the interview, Nwaebonyi allegedly accused her of having “six children with different men,” called her a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “blackmailer,” and further claimed her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her “under duress.”
Her legal team insists the statements were false, malicious, and intended to destroy her reputation and sway public opinion amid a pending petition before the Senate. She also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his allies from making any further defamatory remarks.
₦100 Billion Suit Against Akpabio
In a separate suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment and claimed that his aide, Mfon Patrick, defamed her. She is demanding ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in legal costs.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was recently suspended by the Senate for what was described as “gross misconduct” during a sitting arrangement dispute involving Akpabio. However, she maintains that her suspension was politically motivated, rooted in her harassment allegations against the Senate President.
