Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi-North Senatorial District, has filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his Senior Legislative Aide, Mfon Patrick, over an alleged defamatory Facebook post.
The lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, accuses the defendants of publishing false and damaging statements against her, harming her reputation and public image.
Filed under Suit No. CU/737/25, the case lists Senate President Akpabio, the Senate as an institution, and Mfon Patrick as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants respectively.
Through her legal team, Victor Giwa & Associates, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is seeking N100 billion in general damages, N300 million for the cost of legal action, a public apology in a national daily newspaper, and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from making further defamatory statements.
The controversy stems from a Facebook post allegedly made by Mfon Patrick, titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”
In the post, Patrick allegedly wrote:
“It is a bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about ‘pancaking’ her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claims the post was made at the directive of Senate President Akpabio, with the intent to discredit and ridicule her. She alleges that the defamatory publication has led to public humiliation, loss of business opportunities, and damage to her reputation among her colleagues and constituents.
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of disputes between the senator and the Senate President.
On February 20, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her Senate seat without prior notice, a move she interpreted as an attempt to silence her. She has also accused Akpabio of removing her from key Senate committees.
In July 2024, Akpabio came under fire for allegedly making a sexist remark during a plenary session when he reprimanded Akpoti-Uduaghan for speaking without recognition, stating:
“This is not a nightclub.”
Following public outrage, Akpabio later apologized, claiming he did not intend to disrespect women.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suit demands that the court declare the Facebook post defamatory, order the defendants to retract the post and issue a public apology, grant a perpetual injunction preventing them from making further defamatory remarks, award N100 billion in damages for the reputational harm caused, and award N300 million as legal costs.
The lawsuit is expected to test the limits of freedom of speech and political discourse in Nigeria’s legislative space. As tensions continue between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio, this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for Senate politics.
