Mrs. Unoma Godswill Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed multiple lawsuits against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in response to sexual harassment allegations against her husband.
Mrs. Akpabio filed fundamental rights and defamation lawsuits in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, seeking a total of N251 billion in damages.
The legal battle stems from Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that Senate President Akpabio was victimizing her because she refused his alleged sexual advances. She claimed that Akpabio made several inappropriate advances toward her, including in the presence of her husband.
In response, Mrs. Akpabio denied the allegations, accusing the senator of fabricating claims for personal gain. She had previously warned of legal action during a press conference before launching the lawsuits.
Breakdown of the lawsuits:
Fundamental rights lawsuit (Suit No: CV/814/25)
Mrs. Akpabio claims that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations violate her fundamental rights, citing Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015. She seeks:
- A declaration that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s comments in the Senate and on Arise News TV violated her rights.
- An order of perpetual injunction prohibiting Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any further “scandalous and inciteful” statements that allegedly caused her and her children emotional distress and fear for their lives.
- N250 billion in damages for alleged violation of her rights.
Defamation lawsuit (Suit No: CV/816/25)
Mrs. Akpabio also filed a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s accusations harmed her family’s reputation. She seeks:
- A court ruling that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s unverified claims on national television have harmed her family’s reputation.
- A public retraction and apology appeared in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers
- N1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages for allegedly harming her family’s reputation.
- A perpetual injunction prohibiting Akpoti-Uduaghan from making any further defamatory statements.
The lawsuits have sparked heated public debate, with political observers keeping a close eye on how the legal proceedings will play out.
