Abuja, NIGERIA — Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, has initiated legal action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, filing several lawsuits at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The legal proceedings centre on claims of defamation and violations of fundamental rights, stemming from statements made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a televised interview on Arise News TV.
In the first lawsuit, filed under Suit No: CV/814/25, Mrs. Akpabio contends that statements made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a Senate session on February 20, 2025, followed by further remarks on Arise News, have severely violated her fundamental rights. These remarks are alleged to have caused significant emotional and psychological harm to Mrs. Akpabio and her family, leaving them in a state of constant fear for their safety.
The suit references the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, particularly Section 34(1)(a), which guarantees protection against degrading treatment. It also invokes Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015. Mrs. Akpabio is seeking the following:
“A Declaration that the statements made by the senator are a clear violation of her fundamental rights under Nigerian and international law.
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction prohibiting Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and any associated parties from making further harmful and defamatory statements that have caused emotional distress to Mrs. Akpabio and her children.
“An Award of N250 billion as exemplary, punitive, aggravated, and general damages for the violation of her rights, as well as any other relief the court deems fit.”
The second lawsuit, Suit No: CV/816/25, focuses specifically on defamation. Mrs. Akpabio claims that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations on national television—that the Senate President, her husband, made sexual advances toward the senator—are baseless and have severely tarnished her reputation and that of her family.
In this case, Mrs. Akpabio is seeking:
“A Declaration that the senator’s public accusation is defamatory, false, and has damaged the reputation of both Mrs. Akpabio and her family.
“An Order for Retraction and Apology: The defendant, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, is asked to formally retract the defamatory statements and issue an unconditional apology. This apology must be published in two major Nigerian newspapers: The Guardian and This Day.
“An Award of N1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages for the harm caused by the senator’s accusations.
“An Order of Perpetual Injunction preventing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any further defamatory remarks about Mrs. Akpabio and her family.
“Any further relief the court may deem appropriate in the circumstances”
Both cases highlight the gravity of the claims made by Mrs. Akpabio, whose legal team argues that the senator’s public statements have caused profound emotional distress and threatened the safety and well-being of the Akpabio family.
In a statement, Mrs. Akpabio’s legal representatives emphasized that the legal actions are crucial not only for her personal protection but also as a stand against what they described as a growing culture of baseless public accusations aimed at high-profile individuals without evidence. The Akpabios are seeking justice through the courts for what they perceive as a violation of their rights and dignity.
Both parties have yet to comment publicly on the specifics of the legal actions, but the cases are expected to attract significant attention in the coming months. The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory will hear the matters in due course.
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