Two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have separately issued summonses to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over serious allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and the violation of fundamental rights of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.
In one of the suits, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the FCT High Court, in case number FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, granted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan leave to serve Akpabio with the writ of summons both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President.
Justice Kutigi also directed that Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, be served with relevant court processes. The judge fixed June 9, 2025, for the report on service, following the approval of motion M/6603/2025, moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to the plaintiff.
In a separate but related suit, Justice A.O. Otaluka granted leave for Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi to be served through substituted means. This order was made in suit number FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, following an ex parte motion filed on May 10, 2025. The motion was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and argued by Michael J. Numa (SAN), lead counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court adjourned the matter to June 25 for the report of service.
The suits stem from allegations made by Nwaebonyi during a live interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily”, aired on March 6, 2025, where he allegedly accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of having six children with different men, labeled her a “gold digger,” and questioned the legitimacy of her marriage to Emmanuel Uduaghan, claiming it was under duress.
Senator Natasha’s legal team, led by Numa (SAN), described the remarks as false, defamatory, and intended to malign her reputation and influence public perception regarding her suspension from the Senate. She is seeking a ₦5 billion defamation award against Nwaebonyi, along with a perpetual injunction restraining him and his associates from further defamatory publications.
Furthermore, in the suit against Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleges sexual harassment by the Senate President and defamation by his legislative aide. She is demanding ₦100 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in litigation costs.
The legal battle follows Natasha’s controversial suspension from the Senate for alleged gross misconduct, particularly after a seating altercation with Akpabio. However, she has consistently maintained that the disciplinary action was politically motivated and in retaliation for her sexual harassment accusations against the Senate President.
As the cases unfold, the summonses mark a critical legal moment that may redefine the boundaries of political accountability and gender rights within Nigeria’s legislative landscape.
