Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan files N5bn defamation lawsuit against Nwaebonyi over false claims
On Tuesday, April 8, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended Senator from Kogi Central, took a stand in court against her fellow Senator, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, for making hurtful and false statements about her.
She is suing him for N5 billion over claims that she has six children from different men.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is being represented by a team of lawyers led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. M.J. Numa, strongly denied Nwaebonyi’s accusations. She told the court that his statements were false and made on purpose to harm her reputation.
The Senator explained that the allegations had caused her great emotional pain and damaged how people view her. In court, she revealed that on March 6, 2025, during a televised interview on Channels TV’s “Sunrise Daily” program, Nwaebonyi called her a “gold digger,” a “habitual liar,” and a “habitual blackmailer.” She also pointed out that he falsely accused her of having six children by different men and claimed her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under pressure.
“These false statements were broadcast across TV, the internet, and social media, reaching a large audience,” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan told the court. “They were meant to hurt my image and spread lies about me.”
The Senator explained that the statements portrayed her as someone who always lies, blackmails others, and only forms relationships for money. She said they also made her appear dishonest, as if she constantly used secrets to control people.
Akpoti-Uduaghan told the court that Nwaebonyi made these statements knowing they were untrue, and that his goal was to harm her reputation, especially as she was challenging her illegal suspension in the Senate. She also pointed out that Nwaebonyi, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, should have known better than to make such reckless accusations.
The Senator, who has been suspended for six months, asked the court to issue a permanent order stopping Nwaebonyi from repeating the defamatory statements or publishing similar ones in the future. She also wants him to apologize in at least two national newspapers and retract his comments on the same platforms where they were originally made.
In addition, she is seeking a compensation of N5 billion for the damage caused by these false and hurtful statements. This amount would cover both the distress and emotional harm she has suffered, and act as a warning for others who might spread similar lies.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also argued that the false accusation about her having six children with different men was completely unfounded and reckless. She explained that she is proud of being a strong woman in politics, and the claim only served to undermine her efforts to inspire other women.
As of now, the court has not yet set a date for when the case will be heard.
