CurrentReport Blog Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the representative for Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate, has filed a lawsuit against the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and his Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, for allegedly defaming her. The legal action, initiated on February 25, 2025, is in response to remarks made by the Senate President and published on social media, which Akpoti-Uduaghan claims damaged her reputation.
The dispute began after a reshuffle in the Senate, which saw Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat reassigned following a shift in party alliances. Opposition members moved to the majority wing, prompting the relocation of certain lawmakers. Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, strongly resisted the decision, leading to a clash with the Senate President.
In the court documents filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer Victor Giwa, claimed that Akpabio and Patrick published defamatory content about her. Specifically, the statement in question, posted on Patrick’s Facebook page, was titled “Is local content committee of the senate Natasha’s BIRTHRIGHT?” In it, the third defendant, Patrick, allegedly stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite being a lawmaker, was more concerned with “pancaking her face” and wearing transparent outfits to the Senate Chambers rather than focusing on her legislative duties.
Akpoti-Uduaghan contends that these words were not only defamatory but also provocative and disparaging, ultimately lowering her dignity in the eyes of her colleagues and the general public. The lawmaker believes the statements were intentionally designed to cause public opprobrium and disaffection towards her, tarnishing her image and undermining her position as a member of the Senate.
In the lawsuit, Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks several legal remedies, including:
- A declaration that the words used by the third defendant (Mfon Patrick) are defamatory and have caused public harm.
- An injunction to prevent the defendants, their agents, or associates from publishing defamatory statements about her on social media or other platforms in the future.
- Compensation in the form of N100 billion for general damages and N300 million for litigation costs.
The high-profile case centers around the alleged actions of the Senate President and his aide, which Akpoti-Uduaghan argues were intended to humiliate and discredit her. She maintains that such remarks have no place in professional discourse and should not be tolerated, especially in the political arena.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the case, as it is yet to be assigned to a judge. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the relationship between the two lawmakers and set a precedent for how such public disputes and accusations are handled within the Nigerian Senate.
This legal action has generated widespread attention and debate, with many wondering whether this clash between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio will escalate further.
