Akpabio’s wife sues Natasha

Unoma Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed lawsuits against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused in the lawsuit of slander and a breach of fundamental human rights.

It comes after Kogi Central representative Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed she had difficulties in the Senate after turning down the Senate President’s alleged sexual advances.

In a suit on fundamental rights violation (Suit No: CV/814/25), Mrs Akpabio accused the Senator Natasha of making false and scandalous statements that caused emotional distress to her and her children, leaving them in fear for their safety.

She asked the court to declare the statements a violation of her right to dignity under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Additionally, Mrs Akpabio is seeking N250 billion in damages and a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further claims against her.

In a separate defamation suit (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs Akpabio challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against her husband, describing them as false, malicious, and damaging.

She argued that the claims had brought her family into disrepute and public embarrassment.

She is asking the court to compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a public apology and to pay N1 billion as damages.

The court has yet to fix a date for the hearing of both cases.

Senate dispute escalates

Tensions between the two lawmakers escalated after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seating position in the Senate chamber was changed without her prior knowledge. She protested the move, briefly disrupting a plenary session.

The Senate subsequently referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (Edo South), for investigation. The committee was given two weeks to submit its findings.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick.

Giwa argued that the statement had damaged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation among colleagues and the public.

Further allegations and reactions

The controversy deepened on Friday, when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where she accused Senator Akpabio of sexually harassing her. She claimed that some of her colleagues had warned her to accept the seat change, alleging it was part of a broader scheme against her.

Mrs Akpabio has rejected the allegations against her husband, describing them as false and baseless.

“My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she insisted.

The Senate leadership has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.