Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dragged Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, with a N200 billion defamation lawsuit over her allegation that he sexually harassed her.
The suit, which is accompanied by Motion No. M/12725/2025, is seeking sweeping reliefs that include heavy damages, public apologies across major media platforms and the complete removal of all materials linked to the allegations from the internet.
Akpoti-Uduaghan announced on Thursday that she had been formally served with the court papers.
“Today being the 5th day of December, 2025, I’m in receipt of the newly instituted 200 billion naira suit against me by Senator Godswill Akpabio claiming defamation on sexual harassment.”
She said she was not surprised by the development and expressed relief that the matter had finally moved to the courts, after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges declined to act on her earlier petition.
“Now, I am glad that Sen. Akpabio has brought this up because the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges failed to grant me audience in this issue relying on the fact that Godswill Akpabio’s wife had instituted a defamatory case against me. Therefore they couldn’t attend to a matter already in court.”
According to documents filed before the court, Akpabio accused the Kogi Central senator of embarking on a media campaign through television, radio and online platforms, portraying him as a sexual predator who abused his office for personal satisfaction. He claimed that the widespread publicity severely damaged his reputation, subjected him to public ridicule and caused emotional trauma.
The reliefs sought in the suit include mandatory retractions across all media platforms where the statements were made, deletion of every online content carrying the allegations, repeated public apology broadcasts for several consecutive days and payment of N200 billion as damages.
Court records also show that Akpabio had difficulties serving Akpoti-Uduaghan directly, prompting him to apply for substituted service through an ex parte motion filed in December. Justice Kekemeke granted the request, authorising service through the Clerk of the National Assembly or any staff within the Clerk’s office at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
The court order stated that service of all originating and subsequent processes through the Clerk’s office shall be deemed proper and valid.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further explained why she had not earlier approached the court on her own.
“Albeit, I couldn’t proceed to court because by senate rules, I must still present my case before the Ethics committee (same committee that recommended my illegal suspension).”
She said the lawsuit now gives her the opportunity to present her allegations fully before a court of law.
“Alas, I now have a chance to prove how I was sexually harassed and how my refusal to give into his demands unleashed series of unprovoked and unprecedented attacks on my person.”
She ended her statement with: “See you in court Godswill Akpabio. Senator Natasha H Akpoti Uduaghan, Kogi Central.”
The case, filed as Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025, is expected to come up for hearing in the coming weeks and is already shaping up as one of the most closely watched political court battles in Nigeria.
