Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has taken legal action against the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, accusing him of defamation following a televised interview where he made a series of disparaging comments about her.
The suit, filed on April 7, 2025, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is registered as Suit No: W/1359:25. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Michael Jonathan Numa, is seeking redress for what they describe as malicious and damaging statements.
During his appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on March 6, 2025, Nwebonyi reportedly referred to the senator as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.” He also allegedly made additional claims about her personal life, including the assertion that she is the mother of six children from different men and that she forced her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, into marriage under duress.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has firmly rejected all allegations, stating they are entirely unfounded and aimed at tarnishing her image. She clarified that she has four children from two previous marriages and denied any form of coercion in her current marriage, which she described as one built on mutual respect.
Her legal representatives argue that Nwebonyi’s remarks have not only caused serious reputational damage but also inflicted emotional trauma, subjected her to public humiliation, and diminished her standing among constituents and the general public.
The reliefs sought by the senator include:
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A judicial declaration that Nwebonyi’s comments are false, defamatory, and legally actionable.
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A permanent injunction preventing Nwebonyi and his affiliates from repeating or disseminating the defamatory remarks.
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A public retraction and formal apology, to be broadcast on the same platforms where the claims were made, as well as published in two widely circulated national newspapers.
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Compensation totaling N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages.
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Post-judgment interest at 10% per annum on the awarded damages until fully paid.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that the defamatory statements were not ordinary political rhetoric but a deliberate attempt to degrade her character, diminish her influence, and cast doubt on her contributions to national development.
