By Ademola Adekusibe
6th December 2025
In a dramatic escalation of a bitter political and personal dispute, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The suit comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, claims which the Senate President describes as false, malicious, and deeply injurious to his reputation. Akpabio is demanding a full public retraction, nationwide apology, removal of defamatory content, and ₦200 billion in damages.
According to the court filings, the allegations have caused irreparable harm to Akpabio’s personal and professional reputation, exposing him to public ridicule, scorn, and political backlash.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has previously sought Senate investigation into her claims, acknowledged receiving the court papers, stating the lawsuit presents an opportunity “to now present her case before a court of competent jurisdiction”. She emphasized that she would defend herself vigorously against the suit.
Legal analysts describe the case as a high-stakes showdown, with far-reaching implications for Nigerian politics and public perception of the Senate. Observers note that this lawsuit, valued at ₦200 billion, is among the largest defamation claims in the country’s history.
The case has attracted widespread public attention, drawing reactions from civil society, legal experts, and political commentators, as Nigerians await how the judiciary will handle what some are calling a political and reputational firestorm.
