Nigeria’s political landscape was thrust into fresh turmoil on Friday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio instituted a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, escalating a controversy that has gripped national attention for weeks.
In court filings before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Akpabio alleges that a series of interviews granted by Senator Akpoti, aired on television and circulated widely online, constituted a deliberate attempt to portray him as a sexual predator.
His lawyers argue that the allegations, amplified across social and mainstream media, subjected him to “national humiliation, ridicule, and severe reputational damage.”
Akpabio is seeking extensive reliefs from the court N200 billion in damages, removal of all digital content repeating the allegations and mandatory public apologies broadcast repeatedly on national TV, radio, and online platforms.
Court documents also reveal that after unsuccessful efforts to deliver the suit to Senator Akpoti directly, a judge authorised substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly on November 6, 2025, paving the way for the legal process to advance.
Reacting on Friday after confirming receipt of the suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said she welcomes the courtroom showdown.
She noted that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges had earlier refused to hear her petition, citing a supposed ongoing court case, a move she insists was designed to protect the Senate President from parliamentary scrutiny.
With the matter now officially before the judiciary, Senator Akpoti declared she finally has the chance to present her evidence.
“I’m ready to prove everything,” she said, vowing to establish that she was sexually harassed and subsequently targeted with “sustained political intimidation and retaliation.”
Her message to Akpabio was unequivocal: “See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”
The case is now moving toward full trial, with both parties preparing extensive documentation, witness testimonies, and media records.
Beyond the personal clash between two high-profile senators, the lawsuit is expected to test how Nigeria’s political system confronts and adjudicates allegations of sexual misconduct involving top officeholders.
All eyes now turn to the FCT High Court as one of the most anticipated political and legal battles of 2025 begins to unfold.
