By Ifeoluwa Odunayo
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has filed a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against her colleague, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations that she has six children from different men.
The suit, lodged at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, was initiated through her legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, M.J. Numa.
Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the claims as outright falsehoods, describing them as malicious attacks aimed at tarnishing her public image.
The controversial remarks were allegedly made by Nwaebonyi during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme aired on March 6.
During the interview, he also branded Akpoti-Uduaghan a gold digger, habitual liar, and blackmailer.
According to the court filings, the senator stated that the comments have inflicted severe reputational damage and emotional distress, especially given their wide circulation on television and social media platforms.
She further accused Nwaebonyi of using the defamatory statements to justify her suspension from the Senate and sway public perception against her pending petition before the legislative body.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is not only demanding monetary damages but also a full retraction and a public apology to be published across major media outlets. Additionally, she seeks a court injunction to prevent Nwaebonyi from making further defamatory statements.
As of press time, no date has been set for the hearing.
