Two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have separately issued summonses to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi over allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and the violation of the fundamental rights of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the FCT High Court, in suit no. FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, granted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan leave to serve court processes on Akpabio, both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President. The judge also ordered that Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, and the Clerk of the National Assembly be served with the relevant documents.
The court fixed June 9 for the report of service after granting motion no. M/6603/2025, moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan. The application was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Hamzat Mogaji, a litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a separate case, Justice A.O. Otaluka, also of the FCT High Court, granted leave for Nwaebonyi to be served by substituted means in suit no. 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 Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Michael J. Numa, SAN. The matter was adjourned to June 25 for the report of service.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier filed a ₦5 billion defamation suit against Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Central, over comments made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on March 6. In the interview, Nwaebonyi allegedly claimed that the Kogi Central senator had six children with different men, described her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “blackmailer,” and alleged that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
According to her legal team, the remarks were not only false but were made with malicious intent to tarnish her reputation and influence public perception amid her ongoing petition before the Senate. They further claimed the defamatory statements were intended to justify her controversial suspension from the Senate and to discredit her claims of sexual harassment.
In addition to the defamation suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is also accusing Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment and alleges that his aide defamed her character. She is seeking ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in litigation costs.
The senator was suspended earlier this year over what the Senate described as gross misconduct, following a seating dispute with Akpabio. However, she maintains that the suspension was in retaliation for her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President.
Among other reliefs, Akpoti-Uduaghan is asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from making or disseminating further defamatory statements about her.
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