Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi have been summoned by FCT High Courts over separate allegations of sexual harassment, defamation, and fundamental rights violations filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]kpabio and Nwaebonyi have been separately summoned by two high courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to answer to grave allegations.

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The lawsuits, filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, include claims of sexual harassment, defamation, and the violation of her fundamental human rights.

In suit no: FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi of the FCT High Court granted leave for Akpoti-Uduaghan to personally serve the writ of summons and other court processes on Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his official capacity.

The court also ordered that Mfon Patrick, Senior Legislative Aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly be served accordingly.

Justice Kutigi has adjourned the matter to June 9, 2025, for a report of service, following the successful motion (M/6603/2025) moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, and supported by an affidavit from Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.

In a separate legal action, suit no: FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, Justice A.O. Otaluka of the same court granted leave for Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, to be served by substituted means.

This ex parte motion, dated May 10, was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and a written address, and was moved by Michael J. Numa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Otaluka has adjourned this matter to June 25, 2025, for the report of service.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Nwaebonyi.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier filed a N5 billion defamation suit against Nwaebonyi over a claim that she had six children with different men.

This suit alleges that Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Central, made false and damaging statements during a live interview on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” programme aired on March 6.

Numa informed the court that Nwaebonyi allegedly called the Kogi Senator a “gold digger”, an “habitual liar”, and an “habitual blackmailer,” also claiming that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel stated that these remarks were designed to portray the senator as someone who extorts money dishonestly.

Through her lawyer, Akpoti-Uduaghan further asserted that Nwaebonyi was fully aware of the falsity of his statements and made them to discredit her and justify her “illegal suspension” by the Senate.

She also alleged that Nwaebonyi, a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, made the remarks to unfairly influence public opinion against her ongoing petition before the Senate.

Among other reliefs, she is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing or causing the publication of any further defamatory content about her.

In addition to the defamation suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan has also accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, with his aide (Mfon Patrick) being accused of defaming her character.

For these claims against Akpabio’s aide, she is seeking N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.

The legal actions follow Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate for alleged gross misconduct, which stemmed from a seating arrangement altercation involving Akpabio.

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However, the lawmaker has consistently rejected the Senate’s position, maintaining that her suspension was linked to her sexual harassment claim against Senator Akpabio.