Thursday, June 5, 2025 - Two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have individually and separately summoned Senate President Godswill Akpabio and, Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations of sexual harassment, defamation and the violation of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fundamental rights.
A judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Abubakar
Idris Kutigi, in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, granted leave to Natasha, the
senator representing Kogi central, to serve the writ of summons and other court
processes on Akpabio in person and in his official capacity as senate
president.
The judge also directed that Mfon Patrick, Senior
legislative aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly be served
accordingly.
Kutigi fixed June 9 for the report of service after granting
motion no. M/6603/2025.
The motion, which was moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to
Akpoti-Uduaghan, and supported by a six-paragraph affidavit, was deposed to by
Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
Another judge of the same court, A.O. Otaluka, in a separate
suit, no: FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, granted leave for Nwaebonyi to be served by
substituted means.
The ex parte motion dated May 10 was supported by an
eight-paragraph affidavit and a written address. Michael J. Numa, SAN, and
counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan moved the motion Otaluka adjourned the matter to
June 25 for the report of service.
Natasha had earlier filed a N5 billion defamation suit
against Nwaebonyi over a claim that she had six children with different men.
The suit, filed by her legal team led by Numa, described the
statements as false and a deliberate attempt to damage the lawmaker’s
reputation.
Numa told the court that Nwaebonyi, who represents Ebonyi
north central, made the allegations during a live interview on Sunrise Daily, a
Channels Television programme aired on March 6.
The lawyer said the lawmaker called the Kogi senator a “gold
digger”, an “habitual liar”, and an “habitual blackmailer” and alleged that her
husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.
Natasha’s counsel stated that the remarks were made to depict the senator
as someone who extorts money through dishonest means.
Through her lawyer, Natasha further said Nwaebonyi was fully aware that
the statements were false and made them to discredit her and justify her
illegal suspension by the senate.
She also said the lawmaker, a member of the senate committee on ethics and
public petitions, made the remarks to influence public opinion against her
ongoing petition before the senate.
Among other reliefs, she is asking the court for a perpetual injunction
restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing or causing the
publication of defamatory content about her.
Natasha also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and said his aide
defamed her character.
She is seeking N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in
litigation costs from Akpabio’s aide.
Recall that Natasha was suspended from the senate for alleged gross
misconduct following her seating arrangement altercation with Akpabio.
However, the lawmaker rejected the senate’s position that she was not
suspended over her sexual harassment claim against Akpabio.
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