Two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have issued separate summonses to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and the violation of fundamental human rights brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja, granted leave for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, to serve Akpabio both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President in suit number FCT/HC/CV/754/2025.
Kutigi also ordered that Akpabio’s Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, and the Clerk of the National Assembly be served with the court processes. The court fixed June 9 for the report of service. The motion was moved by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, U.J. Udoh, and supported by a six-paragraph affidavit sworn to by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a separate case before Justice A.O. Otaluka, leave was granted for Nwaebonyi to be served by substituted means in suit number FCT/HC/CV/1359/25. The ex parte motion, dated May 10, was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and a written address. It was moved by Michael J. Numa, SAN, lead counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan. The matter was adjourned to June 25 for a report of service.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a N5 billion defamation suit against Nwaebonyi for alleging during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on March 6 that she had six children with different men.
According to the suit, Nwaebonyi also described her as a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer.” He further claimed her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress. Her legal team maintains that the remarks were false, malicious, and aimed at damaging her reputation.
The senator alleged that Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Central and sits on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, made the comments to sway public sentiment against her and justify her controversial suspension from the Senate.
Among other reliefs, Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from further publication of defamatory statements against her.
She is also demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in legal costs from Akpabio’s aide, whom she accused of defaming her in addition to the sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate for alleged gross misconduct after a dispute over seating arrangements with Akpabio. She has, however, maintained that the suspension was a reprisal for her sexual harassment claim against him.
