Unoma Akpabio, the wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has taken Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to court over alleged defamation and a breach of fundamental human rights. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, stems from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that her troubles in the Senate began after she refused to have a sexual relationship with Akpabio.
In the first suit (Suit No: CV/814/25), Unoma Akpabio alleges that the senator’s statements have caused severe emotional distress for her and her children. She argues that the allegations violate her right to dignity, protected under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
₦250bn Lawsuit and Demand for Public Apology
Unoma Akpabio is demanding ₦250 billion in damages and an order preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further claims against her husband. In a separate defamation suit (Suit No: CV/816/25), she argues that the senator’s accusations are false and have tarnished her family’s reputation.
As part of her demands, Akpabio’s wife wants Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish a public apology in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers and pay ₦1 billion in additional damages. She insists that the allegations have brought her “untold pain and emotional trauma.”
Political Tensions and Countersuits
The dispute between the two senators began after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat in the Senate chamber was changed without her knowledge. She protested the move, leading to a brief disruption during a plenary session. The Senate referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, which was given two weeks to investigate.
In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a separate ₦100 billion lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, for defamation. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, stated that the defamatory remarks were published on Patrick’s Facebook page, where Akpoti-Uduaghan was mocked for supposedly believing that being a senator was about “wearing makeup and transparent outfits.”
The controversy escalated further when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and claiming that her Senate colleagues had warned her about the consequences of rejecting his advances.
Akpabio’s Wife Defends Husband, Dismisses Allegations
Unoma Akpabio has dismissed the claims as baseless. “My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she stated, emphasizing that the accusations are politically motivated.
With lawsuits flying on both sides, Akpabio’s wife suing Natasha for defamation has turned into a high-profile political showdown. The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of both cases.
