The Senate has thrown its support behind Senate President Godswill Akpabio after Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, filed a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit against him.
The legal battle stems from a heated clash in the Senate chamber last week, where Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the relocation of her seat. The dispute escalated when Akpabio allegedly made derogatory remarks, prompting the Kogi senator to seek legal redress.
In the suit (CV/737/25) filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, of publishing defamatory statements on Facebook. She claims the post disparaged her, suggesting she believed being a senator was about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, argued that the statement was damaging to her reputation and sought a court declaration that the remarks were defamatory. She is also demanding N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs, along with a court order restraining further defamatory publications.
However, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed the lawsuit, asserting that the National Assembly enjoys “absolute privilege” in legislative matters.
“We are not aware of any suit for now, but let me state here that what the parliament does in a proper legislative setting is not actionable,” Adaramodu told The PUNCH.
The court has yet to schedule a hearing for the case.
Comments