Effizzie Magazine Abuja Correspondent
Gloria Uwais
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
The lawsuit, filed on April 7, 2025, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under Suit No: W/1359:25, was submitted by her legal team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Michael Jonathan Numa.
The action follows contentious remarks made by Nwebonyi during his March 6, 2025 appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, where he described Akpoti-Uduaghan as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.” She has condemned these statements as false, malicious, and highly damaging to her reputation.
Her legal team argues that these accusations were not only groundless but aimed at subjecting her to public ridicule, emotional distress, and harm to her reputation. The senator contends that the statements were made to undermine her credibility and diminish her standing in the public eye.
Among the allegations, Nwebonyi purportedly claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan is a “mother of six from different men.” She has rejected this claim, clarifying that she has four children from two prior marriages. Additionally, she denied accusations that she pressured her current husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, into marriage, asserting that their relationship is based on mutual respect and consent.
In the lawsuit, Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks the following reliefs:
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A declaration that Nwebonyi’s statements are false, defamatory, and legally actionable.
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A perpetual injunction to prevent Nwebonyi and his associates from making or spreading similar defamatory remarks.
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A public retraction and formal apology, to be aired on the same platforms and published in two national newspapers.
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₦5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for harm to her reputation, emotional suffering, and public disgrace.
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Post-judgment interest on the awarded damages at 10% per annum until fully settled.
The senator emphasized that these falsehoods have significantly affected her reputation, particularly within political circles and among her supporters, and represented a deliberate attempt to tarnish her integrity and discredit her contributions to public service.
