The political arena jolted to attention on Friday as Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio launched a staggering ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, igniting what observers predict will become one of the most closely watched courtroom clashes in recent Nigerian history.
Filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the suit accuses Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making “false and malicious” statements in multiple televised and online interviews—statements Akpabio says amounted to a coordinated attempt to tarnish his reputation with allegations of sexual misconduct. Court documents describe the alleged impact as “national humiliation, ridicule, and grave reputational injury.”
Akpabio is seeking sweeping redress: ₦200 billion in damages, the removal of all online content containing the allegations, and public apologies broadcast across national media platforms.
The legal process, initially slowed by failed attempts to serve Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, accelerated on 6 November 2025 when the court approved substituted service through the Clerk of the National Assembly, clearing procedural hurdles and allowing the case to proceed.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking shortly after acknowledging receipt of the suit, struck a resolute tone. She described the development as the opening she had long awaited, noting that she was previously prevented from presenting her petition before the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges because a related matter was said to be pending in court.
“I’m ready to prove everything,” she declared, insisting she would substantiate her allegations of sexual harassment and link them to what she described as subsequent “political intimidation and retaliation.”
Her message to the Senate President was pointed: “See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”
The unfolding confrontation has already captivated public discourse, raising questions not only about the credibility of both lawmakers but also about how Nigeria’s political and judicial institutions will navigate high-level allegations of sexual misconduct.
As legal teams prepare witness lists, sift through documents, and assemble media evidence, national attention now shifts to the FCT High Court, where a political and personal battle with far-reaching implications is set to play out.
