ABUJA, Nigeria — Two separate high courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have issued summonses to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi over allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and the violation of fundamental human rights brought forward by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the first case, suit no. FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi granted leave for Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve the writ of summons and accompanying court processes on Akpabio both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President.
The court also ordered service on Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The application was presented by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates. The case has been adjourned to June 9 for the report of service.
In a separate suit, no. FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, Justice A.O. Otaluka granted leave for substituted service on Nwaebonyi, who serves as the Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip.
The ex parte motion, dated May 10, was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and written address and moved by Michael J. Numa (SAN), who leads Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team.
That matter was adjourned to Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, is suing Nwaebonyi for ₦5 billion in defamation damages.
She alleges that the senator from Ebonyi North Central made false and damaging remarks about her during a live appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
According to her legal filing, Nwaebonyi alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan had six children with different men, referred to her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer,” and claimed that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
Her counsel argues that these statements were intended to injure her reputation and influence public opinion amid her ongoing petition before the Senate.
She is also seeking a perpetual injunction barring Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing or disseminating further defamatory material about her.
In a separate claim, Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment and is demanding ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in legal costs from Akpabio’s aide, who she says defamed her character.
Her legal challenges follow her controversial suspension from the Senate in April for alleged gross misconduct — a decision she claims is directly linked to her sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio.
The Senate has denied this, stating that the suspension stemmed from an altercation over seating arrangements.
