By Ghazali Ibrahim
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeking N100 billion in damages after an alleged defamatory post was made about her.
The legal action, marked CV/737/25, was filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025. In the suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan, represented by her lawyer Victor Giwa, claims that defamatory statements were made by Akpabio and published on social media by Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick.
The controversy began last Thursday during a plenary session when Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to accept a new seat assigned to her and defied Akpabio’s ruling by reading a point of order.
The tense moment escalated when Akpabio called for her removal from the chamber, although fellow lawmakers intervened to prevent further conflict.
The alleged defamatory post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, made a disparaging comment about Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of only caring about her appearance rather than legislative duties.
It included the statement: “She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
In her suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan argues that the words used were meant to provoke and disgrace her, damaging her reputation and dignity in the public eye.
She is asking the court for a perpetual injunction to prevent further defamatory statements and for the defendants to pay N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.
The Senate, in response, has referred Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for review.
The upper legislative chamber reached a resolution on Tuesday, February 25, 2024, during plenary, following consideration and adoption of a report presented by Yemi Adaramodu, the chamber’s spokesperson.
Adaramodu, who raised a point of order during plenary, said the incident had tarnished the senate’s image.
He said attempts to clarify the senate’s position have been unsuccessful as the public already have their opinion on the incident based on the Kogi lawmaker’s action.
Senators unanimously approved that the matter be referred to the committee after it was put to a voice vote by Akpabio.
Akpabio asked the committee on ethics and privileges to review the entire incident and report back to the senate.
He noted that house rules permit members to sit anywhere, however, they are required to make contributions from their assigned seats.
He suggested that a lack of familiarity with senate procedures may have played a role in the dispute.
