Senator Natasha, 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in Kogi State, has filed a N5.1 billion lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, accusing him of defamation.

The suit, marked CV/1359/25, was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in the Abuja Judicial Division on April 7, 2025, through her counsel led by Michael Jonathan Numa SAN.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that Senator Nwaebonyi, during an appearance on the Channels TV Sunrise Daily program on March 6, 2025, falsely referred to her as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer.”

According to her, these statements were “false, malicious, defamatory, actionable per se,” and have caused significant harm to her reputation.

The suspended senator also mentioned that the defamatory remarks resulted in substantial distress and embarrassment, damaging her public standing and the respect she once held among her supporters and the general public.

Senator Natasha is seeking various reliefs. Such as;

“A DECLARATION that the statements made and published by the Defendant during an interview on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, on Channels TV Sunrise Daily program where the Claimant was falsely branded as a ‘gold digger,’ ‘habitual liar,’ ‘habitual blackmailer,’ are false, malicious, defamatory, actionable per se, and have therefore caused significant and/or capable of causing harm to the Claimant’s reputation, resulting in considerable distress and embarrassment which has lowered and/or aimed to lower the Claimant’s standing in the eyes of the public and diminished her esteem in the eyes of the Public and her admirers.”

“A DECLARATION that the following words: ‘Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a gold digger,’ ‘habitual liar,’ ‘habitual blackmailer,’ were maliciously and falsely published by the Defendant against the Claimant during the Channels TV Sunrise Daily program on or about the 6th March, 2025, to millions of viewers worldwide on Channels Television, as well as to members of the public within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, are highly defamatory to the Claimant’s character and reputation.”

“A DECLARATION that the statement made and published by the Defendant during an interview on or about the 3rd day of March, 2025, on Arise News TV, accusing the Claimant of being ‘a mother of six from different men,’ is false, malicious, defamatory, actionable per se and has injured and/or capable of injuring the Claimant’s character, prestige, pedigree, and reputation in the estimation of the public and her admirers.”

“A DECLARATION that the following words as contained in the YouTube link: ‘This woman is spoiling game for women who want to enter politics. Are you the only woman in Nigeria Senator Natasha!? What is wrong with you?'”

“A DECLARATION that the following words as contained in the YouTube Video link of News Central TV Reportage: ‘Even her present husband she married her, out of, out of, out of something like this, she threatened to sue the man, I have a letter circulating over the world that the man should pay her 10 billion or marry her. The man had to marry her under duress. So this… the marriage was under duress, another product of blackmail. She accused Reno Omokri of sexual harassment during the time of Goodluck Jonathan as president when the young man was already in the United States attending to national issues. Upon the slightest provocation, she would come up with allegations of sexual harassment…. Even her present husband—he married her out of things like this. She threatened to sue the man’ were maliciously and falsely published by the Defendant against the Claimant on the 27th March, 2025 to all the viewers on YouTube and the entire public within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, are highly defamatory and injurious to the Claimant.”

“A DECLARATION that the different publications complained above are false, malicious, unjustified, injurious, scornful, distasteful, unsavory, and have exposed and/or capable of exposing the Claimant to public odium, ridicule, and disdain both nationally and internationally.”

“A DECLARATION that the words complained of do not constitute a valid exercise by the Defendant of his freedom of speech and expression.”

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his associates, agents, assignees, servants, privies, proxies, allies or anyone howsoever called from further publishing or causing to be published the words complained of or any other defamatory words concerning the Claimant.”

“AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT compelling the Defendant to retract the defamatory words on the same platforms used to make the defamatory publications and tender an unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers electronically and vide print media circulated Nationwide within 7 days from the day of the delivery of the judgment of this Honourable Court.”

“AN order of this Honourable Court awarding the sum of ₦5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) Only, against the Defendant being aggravated and exemplary damages in favour of the Claimant for the false, malicious and injurious statements that have since caused the Claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress.”

“AN order of this Honourable Court awarding post-judgment interest on the judgment sum awarded to the Claimant at the rate of 10% (Ten percent) per annum from the date of delivery of the judgment until the judgment debt is fully liquidated.”

“Cost of this action accessed at ₦100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) only.”

“FOR such further order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), made up of governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reiterated the unity and strength of the party, asserting that it remains Nigeria’s largest and most stable political force, well-positioned for success in the 2027 general elections.

Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, shared this message during a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence.

After a private meeting with Buhari, Uzodinma spoke to the press, calling the visit a gesture of solidarity and a demonstration of the APC’s internal cohesion.

“The visit followed the conclusion of Ramadan, Lent, and Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, and we thought it important to come and pay homage to President Buhari, who served two terms under the APC,” Uzodinma explained.

He also highlighted Buhari’s significance within the party.

“President Buhari is a father figure to us in the APC. We are pleased to find him in good health and sound mind,” Uzodinma said.

The Imo State Governor expressed gratitude to Buhari for his leadership and his pivotal role in establishing a unified political structure that helped the APC retain power.

“The APC is growing stronger and has the capacity to govern Nigeria effectively. This strength comes from our ability to consult widely and prioritize national interest above personal ambitions,” he stated.

Uzodinma also emphasized that maintaining internal unity and strong leadership is critical for the party’s continued electoral success.

Mr. Isaiah Yesufu, the Director of Certification, Compliance, and Monitoring at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), testified against former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika on Monday in the ongoing trial over an alleged N19.4 billion contract fraud.

Sirika, his brother Ahmad, and two companies are facing charges of abuse of office and contract fraud, related to the construction of the terminal building at Katsina Airport.

Yesufu, who is a prosecution witness, revealed in court that the BPP was not aware of the split in the contract.

Sirika and his co-defendants are being prosecuted on a 10-count charge before Justice Suleiman Belgore, including charges of abuse of office, criminal breach of trust, and using their positions for personal gain.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Sirika awarded various contracts to his brother, Ahmad, totaling approximately N19.4 billion.

The commission further claims that Sirika unfairly benefited Enginos Nigeria Limited, owned by his brother, by influencing the awarding of a contract for the construction of the Katsina Airport terminal building, valued at N1,345,586,500.

Another contract for the establishment of a Fire Truck Maintenance and Refurbishment Centre at Katsina Airport was allegedly awarded for N3,811,497,685.

Additionally, the EFCC claims Ahmad and Enginos Nigeria Limited received N2,337,840,674.16, which they knew represented the proceeds of Sirika’s alleged criminal conduct.

Despite the charges, the defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Testifying in court, Yesufu explained that any bidder for a contract must submit an affidavit declaring that there is no relationship with the procuring entity.

“If there is a relationship, this shall amount to a conflict of interest and should be disclosed,” Yesufu said.

He also stated that the relevant officer in the BPP or procuring entity must recuse themselves from participating in the process if a conflict of interest arises.

Yesufu described the procurement process for the Katsina airport terminal building, stating that the Ministry of Aviation sought approval to adopt a restricted tendering method due to time constraints.

Approval was granted for five companies, including Enginos Nigeria Limited.

However, Yesufu said that after the approval was granted, the ministry completed the procurement process and awarded two separate contracts: one to Enginos and another to Al-Buraq.

He clarified, “The Bureau was not aware how a single contract, titled ‘Construction of Katsina Airport Terminal Building and Apron,’ was eventually awarded as two separate contracts.”

Yesufu only learned about the contract split when he was invited by the EFCC, where he provided his statement.

He confirmed that Enginos Nigeria Limited was awarded the contract for the Katsina airport terminal building at a cost of N1,345,586,500.

Following Yesufu’s testimony, prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) requested an adjournment to sort out some documents.

The other parties did not object, and Justice Belgore adjourned the case until April 8 for further testimony from the prosecution witness.