Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a fresh ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, further intensifying an already tense relationship between the two lawmakers. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, disclosed the development on Friday through a Facebook post, where she also attached copies of the court documents.
The suit, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and marked FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025, is before Justice U. P. Kekemeke. In the court filings, Akpabio accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of making what he described as “false, malicious, and injurious” statements that allegedly portrayed him as a “sexual predator” and exposed him to public ridicule and contempt.
The Senate President is demanding ₦200 billion in damages, a public retraction, and nationwide broadcast apologies. According to the court records, an order for substituted service was granted on November 6 after bailiffs were unable to serve Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan directly. As a result, the suit was served through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
In a strong response posted on her Facebook and Instagram pages, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed she had received the suit and declared that she was ready for a full public trial. She described the lawsuit as an opportunity to finally tell her side of the story, especially after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges earlier declined to hear her complaint.
“I’m in receipt of the newly instituted ₦200bn suit against me by Senator Godswill Akpabio claiming defamation on sexual harassment. Now, I am glad that Akpabio has brought this up because the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges failed to grant me an audience on this issue, relying on the fact that Godswill Akpabio’s wife had instituted a defamatory case against me. Therefore they couldn’t attend to a matter already in court.”
“Alas, I now have a chance to prove how I was sexually harassed and how my refusal to give in to his demands unleashed a series of unprovoked and unprecedented attacks on my person. See you in court Godswill Akpabio.”
Her reaction quickly reignited public debate, with many Nigerians discussing the growing tension within the Senate and what this lawsuit means for the stability of the 10th National Assembly.
The dispute between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan has been building for months. The Kogi senator has repeatedly accused the Senate President of victimising her and using his office to suppress dissenting voices. She once described him as a “dictator” on her social media pages and has often clashed with Senate leadership on procedural and political matters.
In March 2025, the conflict reached its peak when Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months after protesting the relocation of her seat during plenary. She argued that the action was targeted at her and intended to humiliate her. Senate leadership maintained that she breached parliamentary rules, but her supporters insisted the punishment was politically motivated.
Although her suspension expired in September, she did not resume immediately. She claimed there were legal bottlenecks and what she called “internal pushback” from Senate leadership. Her office remained sealed for weeks until the Sergeant-at-Arms finally reopened it. Upon resumption, she declared she had “no apology to tender,” insisting she was being punished for speaking out.
This ongoing tension has made the legal confrontation between the two lawmakers one of the most closely watched political disputes in recent Nigerian parliamentary history.
Given the roles both lawmakers play — one as Senate President and the other as a vocal opposition figure within the chamber — the outcome of the case may have political consequences that extend far beyond the courtroom.
The public response to the lawsuit has been swift. Many Nigerians on social media see the case as a test of political accountability within the National Assembly. Supporters of Akpoti-Uduaghan say she is being targeted for challenging the Senate leadership, while supporters of Akpabio insist he has the right to protect his name from damaging allegations.
Civil society groups have also begun calling for transparency as the case moves forward, arguing that the seriousness of the allegations requires open and fair legal proceedings.
Some women’s rights organisations say the case highlights the difficulties women in politics often face, especially when speaking out against powerful figures. Others caution against politicising sexual harassment allegations, insisting that the courts must determine the facts objectively.
With both sides now preparing for a major legal showdown, the case is expected to dominate political discussions in the coming weeks. Court dates, filings, and public statements from both camps will likely attract national media attention.
For now, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan says she is ready to confront the Senate President in court. Akpabio, through his suit, insists that her allegations have caused him serious reputational harm.
As the legal battle begins, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the case unfolds and what it means for the future of the 10th Senate.