Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has slammed a N5.1 billion defamation suit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Filed on April 7, 2025, the suit (No. CV/1359/25) was initiated through her legal team led by Michael Jonathan Numa, SAN. Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that during a March 6 appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Senator Nwaebonyi falsely referred to her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.”
She argues that these statements are malicious and defamatory, causing significant reputational damage, emotional distress, and embarrassment. According to her, the remarks have lowered her public standing and esteem.
The suit also cites a March 3 interview on Arise News TV, where Nwaebonyi allegedly claimed Akpoti-Uduaghan is “a mother of six from different men,” along with additional comments from YouTube videos on Channels TV and News Central TV, where he allegedly accused her of blackmail and forcing her husband into marriage under duress.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking multiple declarations from the court that the statements were false, malicious, and not protected under free speech.
She is requesting a perpetual injunction stopping further publication of the defamatory remarks, an order compelling Nwaebonyi to publicly retract the statements and issue an apology, and N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
She is also seeking N100 million as cost of the suit, and post-judgment interest of 10% per annum until full payment.
