Natasha: Court summons Akpabio, Nwaebonyi over sexual harassment, defamation claims

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Two separate High Courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have issued summonses to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, in connection with a case involving allegations of sexual misconduct, defamation, and violations of the fundamental rights of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In one of the cases, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the Federal High Court in Abuja, under suit number FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, approved a request by Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, to serve Akpabio with legal documents both personally and in his official role as Senate President.

Justice Kutigi also ordered that the documents be served to Mfon Patrick, Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, as well as the Clerk of the National Assembly. The court scheduled June 9, 2025, for an update on the delivery of the court summons.

The motion, identified as M/6603/2025, was presented by U.J. Udoh, one of the lawyers representing Akpoti-Uduaghan. It was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit submitted by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.

In a separate but related matter, Justice A.O. Otaluka, also of an FCT High Court, granted permission for Nwaebonyi to be served by substituted means under suit number FCT/HC/CV/1359/25.

The application for substituted service was filed on May 10, backed by an eight-paragraph affidavit and a written address. It was moved by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Michael J. Numa, who is also representing Akpoti-Uduaghan in that case. Justice Otaluka set June 25, 2025, to receive a status report on the delivery of the court documents.

Previously, Senator Natasha had filed a defamation lawsuit against Nwaebonyi, seeking ₦5 billion in damages over his public claim that she had six children with different fathers.

According to her legal team led by Numa, those statements were not only false but also intended to severely damage her public image. Numa informed the court that Nwaebonyi, who serves as the senator for Ebonyi North Central, made the remarks during a live broadcast of Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme aired on March 6.

The lawsuit details that the senator referred to his colleague as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer,” and alleged that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her unwillingly.

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Her legal representative asserted that these statements were aimed at portraying her as someone who manipulates others for financial gain. The claim also stated that Nwaebonyi knowingly made the false accusations to damage her credibility and justify the controversial decision by the Senate to suspend her.

It was also claimed that Nwaebonyi, a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, intended to influence public sentiment against Natasha amid her ongoing petition before the Senate.

As part of the legal reliefs sought, she is requesting a permanent court order preventing Nwaebonyi and his affiliates from making or circulating any more defamatory content about her.

In addition, Senator Natasha has leveled accusations of sexual harassment against Akpabio and claimed that his aide publicly defamed her.

She is demanding ₦100 billion in general damages and an additional ₦300 million to cover the costs of litigation from Akpabio’s aide.

It is worth noting that Natasha’s suspension from the Senate stemmed from a dispute involving her seat placement during a session presided over by Akpabio.

However, the senator has disputed the official explanation, asserting that her suspension was a direct consequence of her sexual harassment accusation against the Senate President.

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