Akpabio’s Wife Sues Senator Natasha, Demands N250B, N1B in Damages

The wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, has filed lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeking a total of ₦251 billion in damages over allegations made by the Kogi lawmaker.

The suits were filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of defamation and violation of fundamental human rights. 

The legal dispute arose after Senator Natasha, representing Kogi Central under the PDP, made allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a televised interview on Arise News TV.

In her statement, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, claiming that their conflict began when she refused his alleged advances.

In response, Mrs Akpabio argues that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s remarks have caused significant psychological and emotional distress to her and her children.

In her fundamental rights lawsuit, she is asking the court to declare that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements violated her rights and to issue an order preventing the senator from making further damaging remarks. She is also demanding ₦250 billion in damages for the emotional and psychological suffering allegedly caused by the accusations. 

In a separate defamation suit, Mrs Akpabio claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations have seriously damaged her family’s reputation. She is requesting a formal retraction of the statements, an unconditional public apology to be published in The Guardian and This Day newspapers, and ₦1 billion in punitive damages. Additionally, she is seeking a court order preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any further defamatory statements against her family. 

This lawsuit follows an earlier legal action filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Akpabio, in which she demanded ₦100.3 billion in damages after her Senate seat was allegedly changed without her consent.