Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, demanding N1.3 billion in damages over statements she claims were false and damaging to her reputation. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also seeks a public apology and a court order restraining Akpabio and his associates from making further defamatory statements against her.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy stems from comments allegedly made by Akpabio and amplified by his aide on Facebook. Through her attorney, Victor Giwa, Akpoti-Uduaghan claims that the defamatory statements were shared in a Facebook post titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”
According to Giwa, the post included remarks suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was only about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.” He described the statement as defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, arguing that it was intended to ridicule her in the eyes of her colleagues and the public.
Giwa stated “A DECLARATION that the words, ‘It is bottled anger by the Kogi lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,’ used and written by the third defendant at the prompting of the first and second defendants, is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection toward the claimant.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan is also asking the court to issue an injunction preventing Akpabio and his associates from making further defamatory statements against her.
“AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the defendants, whether acting by themselves or through their agents, privies, assigns, or associates, from further publishing or causing to be published the said defamatory words or any similar publications about the claimant on social media or in any other manner capable of defaming her.”
Who is Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?
Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and politician known for her advocacy in Nigeria’s steel sector and political reforms. She first gained national prominence in 2018 when she contested for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
A vocal advocate for infrastructural development, particularly the revival of Nigeria’s moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently challenged government policies that she believes hinder industrial growth.
In 2019, she ran for Kogi State governor, taking on entrenched political interests. In 2023, she was elected to the Senate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Kogi Central. Her tenure has been marked by strong opposition to political elites, making her a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics.
Social Media Reaction
The lawsuit has ignited debate on social media, with many users taking sides.
On X (formerly Twitter), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters have commended her for standing up to what they describe as “sexist and demeaning attacks.” One user wrote, “Natasha is fearless. Calling out this kind of language is long overdue in Nigerian politics.”
However, some Akpabio supporters argue that the lawsuit is a strategic move ahead of the 2025 Delta State governorship election, which Akpoti-Uduaghan is rumored to be interested in. One countered, “Politicians sue each other when they run out of real issues to campaign on.”
Analysts in political forums have also weighed in, with some suggesting that this case could set an important precedent for defamation suits in Nigerian politics, particularly in the social media era.
Akpabio has yet to issue an official response, but his legal team is expected to defend the statements in court. As the case unfolds, political observers will be watching closely to see whether it escalates into a broader conflict within the Senate.
