Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, has filed a legal case against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following serious allegations of sexual harassment made against her husband. The suit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, seeks a staggering N250 billion in damages for defamation and a violation of her fundamental rights.
The case has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, as it involves high-profile figures in Nigeria’s Senate. Mrs. Akpabio’s legal team is pursuing a strong claim, stating that Natasha’s accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio are false and have caused significant harm to her family’s reputation.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexually harassing her within the Senate chambers. She claimed that Akpabio made several sexual advances toward her, including one incident that allegedly took place in the presence of her own husband. Akpoti-Uduaghan made these claims public, not only on the floor of the Senate but also in an interview with Arise News TV.
However, Mrs. Akpabio quickly dismissed these allegations, accusing Natasha of lying. According to Mrs. Akpabio, Natasha was merely creating false content for her own personal gain. The claims have stirred a fierce legal battle, with both parties standing firmly by their accusations.
In a statement released to the press, Mrs. Akpabio said, “These allegations are entirely false, malicious, and meant to cause harm. Natasha is lying and using these claims to gain public attention.” She also expressed her distress at the emotional and psychological toll the allegations have taken on her family, particularly her children, who have been affected by the scandal.
In response to Natasha’s public statements, Mrs. Akpabio filed two separate lawsuits against the Kogi Central Senator. The first lawsuit, filed under Suit No: CV/814/25, is a fundamental rights suit seeking a court declaration that Natasha’s statements violated her constitutional rights 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.
Mrs. Akpabio is also seeking a court order for a perpetual injunction to prevent Natasha from making further “inciteful, scandalous, and spiteful” remarks, which she argues have caused undue distress to her and her family. In addition, she is requesting N250 billion in exemplary, punitive, aggravated, and general damages for the harm caused by Natasha’s public statements.
The second lawsuit, filed as Suit No: CV/816/25, is a defamation claim. Mrs. Akpabio argues that Natasha’s televised allegations have damaged her family’s reputation and brought them into “disrepute and opprobrium.” In this suit, Mrs. Akpabio is demanding that Natasha issue a public retraction and apology in two major Nigerian newspapers: The Guardian and This Day.
Furthermore, Mrs. Akpabio is seeking N1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages in the defamation case. She is also asking for a permanent injunction to prevent Natasha from making any further defamatory statements about her family in the future.
The legal action comes after heated exchanges in the Nigerian Senate, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Godswill Akpabio of abusing his position. In a highly publicised session on February 20, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan openly made the allegations, asserting that her rejection of the Senate President’s alleged sexual advances had led to victimisation in the Senate.
In contrast, Mrs. Akpabio’s legal team has strongly rejected the allegations, arguing that they are baseless and part of a personal vendetta. Mrs. Akpabio’s decision to pursue legal action reflects the seriousness with which she views the damage to her family’s reputation, particularly considering her position as the wife of the Senate President.
Under Nigerian law, defamation is considered a serious offense, and individuals whose reputation has been harmed by false statements are entitled to seek redress in court. The Nigerian Constitution provides protection for citizens’ fundamental rights, including the right to personal dignity, which has been central to Mrs. Akpabio’s legal claim. Section 34(1)(a) of the Constitution guarantees the right to dignity of the human person, protecting individuals from defamatory acts that damage their personal and family reputation.
