The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has filed a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi Central senator, over sexual harassment allegation thus setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most sensational legal battles in Nigeria.
Senator Akpabio described the allegation as malicious.
Documents from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory showed that Akpabio is demanding extensive damages, retractions, and nationwide broadcast apologies, insisting that the senator’s claims severely injured his reputation and subjected him to public ridicule.
Court documents sighted further showed that Akpabio, through an ex parte application dated December 3, sought leave to serve court papers on Akpoti-Uduaghan via substituted means, specifically through the Clerk of the National Assembly at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
Justice Kekemeke granted the request, allowing the claimant to deliver all originating and subsequent processes—including hearing notices—to any staff in the Clerk’s office.
The suit, accompanied by Motion No. M/12725/2025, revolves around Akpabio’s claim that Natasha’s allegations damaged his reputation.
AN ORDER of the Honourable Court granting leave to the Claimant/Applicant to serve the Originating Processes, i.e. Writ of Summons and all other subsequent processes including Hearing Notices in this Suit, (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025) on the Defendant by substituted means to wit, by delivering same to the Clerk of the National Assembly, or any staff in the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
AN ORDER of the Honourable Court deeming the said mode of service of the processes on the Defendant as good and proper service.
AND for such further or other Order(s) as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.
The suit, which includes a detailed Statement of Claim and a list of witnesses, alleges that Senator Akpoti’s interviews aired on television, radio and widely circulated online painted the Senate President as a predator who exploited his position for personal gratification.
Akpabio argues that millions of Nigerians consumed the content, creating a wave of backlash that he describes as damaging, humiliating and deeply distressing.
He is asking the court to compel the removal of all online materials containing the allegations and to order an apology broadcast across major media outlets for several consecutive days.
In an order issued November 6, 2025, the court granted the claimant permission to serve court processes on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through the Clerk of the National Assembly after initial attempts at direct service were unsuccessful.