Natasha sues colleague for N5b over defamatory remarks

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.

The lawsuit, filed through her legal counsel Michael Numa, is in response to statements made by Senator Nwaebonyi during a live interview on Channels Television on March 6, 2025. According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the remarks were false, malicious, and aimed at damaging her reputation and public image.

In her suit, the senator is seeking a declaration that Nwaebonyi’s comments were defamatory, alongside a demand for N5 billion in damages. She argues that the statements not only tarnished her character but also caused emotional distress and posed a threat to her political credibility.

According to the suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan asserts that Nwaebonyi described her as a “gold digger, habitual liar, and habitual blackmailer” during the interview.

Amongst others, she prayed the court to declare as false, malicious, and defamatory claims that she is a mother of six children from different men allegedly made by her colleague.

She noted that such remarks undermine her reputation as a role model for women aspiring to enter politics.

“The defendant’s characterisation of the claimant as a ‘mother of six from different men’ is baseless, malicious, and reckless,” the suit states.

“The claimant is an inspiration to women in politics and aspiring women for speaking truth to power.

“The claimant is not tarnishing the chances of women in politics as falsely alleged. Rather, she is inspiring women to be bold in their pursuit of political aspirations and good governance.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan in the suit contends that Nwaebonyi’s statements have caused significant harm to her reputation and public embarrassment.

The senator from Kogi proceeded to seek a court order restraining Nwaebonyi from making further malicious statements against her.

Additionally, she asked the court to direct Nwaebonyi to pay N5 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages for the false, malicious, and injurious statements made against her.

She also requested that the court compel Nwaebonyi to retract the defamatory remarks on the same platform where they were initially made and issue an unreserved apology.

The court filing seeks “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies, or anyone acting on his behalf from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained of, or any other defamatory statements concerning the claimant.”

The document further requests “an order of this Honourable Court compelling the defendant to retract the defamatory statements on the same platforms used to make the allegations and to tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers, both in print and online, circulated nationwide, within seven days from the date of judgment.”

It also calls for “an order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of £5 billion as aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the claimant for the false, malicious, and injurious statements that have caused the claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”

She also sought, “an order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum at a rate of 10% per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully paid.”