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Emmanuel Uduaghan, the husband of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan , has requested a public apology from Ebonyi North Senator, Onyekachi Nwebonyi for his statement saying that he married the suspended Kogi senator under duress.

Mr Uduaghan, a traditional head of Warri Kingdom in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, handed Mr Nwebonyi a 14-day ultimatum to deliver a written apology and assure its circulation across media platforms.

He issued a warning that noncompliance would result in legal action.

Ehiogie West-Idahosa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Mr. Uduaghan’s legal counsel, sent a letter on March 27th outlining the demand.

Mr. Nwebonyi has been vigorously defending Senate President Godswill Akpabio against the Kogi senator’s claims of sexual harassment.

In his capacity as the Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, Mr. Nwebonyi has frequently been on television to defend Mr. Akpabio, claiming to have witnessed the events between the Senate president and Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan in Akwa Ibom.

He repeatedly asserted that he was there when Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Mr. Akpabio had inappropriately approached her while they were visiting the senate president’s home in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

At the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions’ hearing on the sexual harassment claims on Tuesday, Mr. Nwebonyi spoke on behalf of the Senate president. Later, the meeting turned into a furious verbal altercation between him and Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education.

Mr. Nwebonyi claimed in a recent interview on News Central Television that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan used extortion to force her husband into marriage, stating that their union was formed under duress.

“In my own assessment she is not among the beautiful women in Nigeria and it is high time we come hard on her and why people like us are speaking on top of our voice is not just to protect and defend the senate president but to protect and defend her future victims. Even her present husband, she married him out of something like this. She threatened to sue the man. I have a letter circulated over the world that the man should pay her N10 billion or marry her under duress.

“So the marriage was under duress. A product of blackmail. I was watching a video of how the father of the first wife of the husband narrated her ordeal. This lady came into their family, destabilised the family and took over her husband. And without going into her character, ask Senator Natasha how many husbands has she had in her life at the age of 47 or 45,” Mr Nwebonyi said during the interview on News Central TV.

The lawyer for Mr. Uduaghan denied the accusations in the letter and emphasized that the senator and her spouse are respected individuals.

“The said defamatory statements made by you were widely circulated by users of other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and many more within and outside Nigeria with the intention of damaging the reputation of our clients.

“Contrary to the malicious words spoken by you, our clients are very respectable, successful, result oriented and self-decision driven members of the Nigerian Society. Chief Uduaghan is a very successful businessman, community leader, high chief and philanthropist, known for upholding cherished values of the Nigerian society to the admiration of many,” the lawyer said.

According to the legal counsel, the couple’s reputation among friends, relatives, and associates had suffered as a result of the defamatory remarks, which had also created humiliation and mistrust.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a successful Nigerian politician, opinion moulder, defender of the needy, efficient wife and mother well admired at home and abroad.

“Since you uttered your said defamatory words that were widely aired, some family members, friends, political and business associates of our clients now view them with a strange level of disdain and distrust. Our clients have been deeply embarrassed by the extent and effect of your false and malicious words,” he said.

However, Mr. Uduaghan’s lawyer insisted that Mr. Nwebonyi apologize publicly within 14 days of receiving the letter. The apology also had to be widely shared on social media sites where the disparaging remarks were made and prominently broadcast on News Central Television.

“Consequently, we hereby demand a written apology from you within 14 days from the date of your receipt of this letter. The apology should be widely circulated. It must, in particular, be aired on News Central TV and published by various social media platforms which published your defarnatory words,” the lawyer said.

The attorney forewarned that if Mr. Uduaghan and his wife did not comply, legal action would be taken to recover the harm to their reputation.

“Failing a satisfactory response from you, our instruction is to initiate the necessary legal process to seek redress for our clients” he said.

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