Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has fired back after Senate President Godswill Akpabio filed a ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over her allegation of sexual harassment.
According to the Kogi lawmaker, the suit finally provides the platform she has been seeking to present her evidence after the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges allegedly blocked her attempts to be heard.
The lawsuit, marked Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025, was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and formally served on the senator on December 5. The matter, presided over by Justice U. P. Kekemeke, is scheduled to continue on January 21, 2026.
In a strongly worded statement released Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed receipt of the lawsuit and said she is fully ready for the legal showdown.
She said Akpabio’s claim of defamation stems from her recent revelation that he sexually harassed her.
She added that while the Senate refused to give her a hearing, the court has now given her the avenue they denied her.
She recalled that the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee rejected her petition, claiming they could not address the matter because Akpabio’s wife had filed a separate case in court.
Quoting her directly, she said:
“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.
Now, I am glad that Sen. Akpabio has brought this up because the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges failed to grant me audience relying on the fact that Godswill Akpabio’s wife had instituted a defamatory case against me.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan further stated that Senate rules prevented her from pursuing her case in court earlier, as she was required to first present her complaint before the same Ethics Committee that had imposed what she describes as her “illegal suspension.”
She continued:
“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).
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. See you in court Godswill Akpabio.”
Court filings show that Akpabio sought and received permission to serve all court processes on Akpoti-Uduaghan through substituted means.
Justice Kekemeke authorized the documents to be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly or any staff member in the Clerk’s office.
Part of the ex parte application reads:
“AN ORDER granting leave to serve the Originating Processes and all subsequent processes on the Defendant by delivering same to the Clerk of the National Assembly or any staff in the Clerk’s office… AND for such further Order(s) as the Court may deem fit.”
The lawsuit argues that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations have harmed Akpabio’s personal and political reputation.
With both high-profile lawmakers now gearing up for a major courtroom battle, the matter has already triggered intense public debate, highlighting deep te
nsions within the National Assembly.