The wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, has filed multiple lawsuits at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking ₦350 billion in damages over alleged defamation and breach of fundamental rights.
The lawsuits stem from statements allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a televised interview on Arise News and remarks made on the Senate floor on February 20, 2025.
Fundamental Rights Violation Claims
In Suit No: CV/814/25, Mrs. Akpabio argued that the senator’s statements violated her fundamental rights and those of her husband, citing:
- Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)
- Articles 4 & 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
- Section 14 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015
She is requesting the court to:
- Declare Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements a violation of fundamental rights
- Issue a perpetual injunction restraining the senator from making further “inciteful, scandalous, and spiteful statements”
- Award ₦250 billion in damages for emotional and psychological distress suffered by her and her children
Defamation Lawsuit
In a separate defamation suit (CV/816/25), Mrs. Akpabio is seeking:
- A formal retraction and an unconditional apology in two national newspapers (The Guardian and ThisDay)
- ₦1 billion in damages for the alleged harm to her family's reputation
- A perpetual injunction preventing the senator from making further defamatory remarks
The lawsuits mark a significant legal battle between the two female politicians, as the Senate President’s wife seeks legal redress over alleged reputational damage and emotional distress caused by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements.
