Due to allegations of defamation and human rights violations made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Unoma Akpabio, has filed separate cases against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The lawsuit comes after Kogi Central representative Akpoti-Uduaghan recently claimed that her problems in the Senate began after she refused to have sex with the Senate President.
In the first lawsuit alleging a breach of basic rights (Suit No: CV/814/25), Mrs. Akpabio accused the senator of making scandalous and false claims that left her and her children emotionally traumatised and terrified for their lives.
In accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Constitution, she requested that the court rule that the remarks violated her right to dignity.
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In a separate defamation Suit No: CV/816/25, Mrs Akpabio challenged the senator’s claim that her husband made sexual advances towards her.
She described the allegations as false, malicious, and damaging, saying they had brought her family into disrepute and public shame.
As part of her demands, she asked the court to order Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a public apology in two national newspapers, The Guardian and ThisDay, and pay ₦1 billion in damages.
“The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” Mrs. Akpabio said in the suit.
The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of both suits.
The disagreement between both lawmakers began after Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered that her seating position in the Senate chamber had changed without her knowledge.
She protested the action, causing a brief disruption during a plenary session.
The Senate later referred her case to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, led by Senator Neda Imaseun from Edo South, for investigation.
The committee was given two weeks to submit its report.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦100 billion lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, said the alleged defamatory statement was published on Patrick’s Facebook page with the title, ‘Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?’
The post accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of thinking that being a senator was all about wearing makeup and transparent outfits to the chamber.
Describing the statement as provocative and damaging, Giwa said it had lowered his client’s reputation among her colleagues and the public.
On Friday, the controversy deepened when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show and accused Akpabio of sexually harassing her.
She claimed that some of her colleagues had warned her to accept the seat change because it was part of a plot against her.
Meanwhile, Akpabio’s wife denied the allegations, describing them as false and baseless.
“My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she said.
