Ekaette Akpabio Files Lawsuits Against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Seeks ₦350 Billion in Compensation

Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, has taken legal action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of defamation and infringement on her fundamental rights. Mrs. Akpabio is demanding ₦250 billion in damages, plus an additional ₦1 billion to cover legal expenses.

The lawsuits, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, are in response to sexual harassment allegations made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan against her husband, Godswill Akpabio, who serves as the Senate President. These allegations were aired during an interview on Arise News on February 20, 2025.

In the fundamental rights case (Suit No: CV/814/25), Mrs. Akpabio claims that the senator’s remarks during the interview violated her constitutional rights and caused significant emotional distress. She cites Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which safeguards individuals from degrading treatment. She is requesting the following legal remedies:

• A declaration that the allegations have violated her rights, causing emotional and psychological harm to her and her children.
• A permanent injunction preventing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further defamatory or inflammatory statements.
• ₦250 billion in damages for exemplary, punitive, and general harm caused by the senator’s comments.

In a separate defamation suit (Suit No: CV/816/25), Mrs. Akpabio is challenging the truth of the accusations, claiming they have irreparably damaged both her personal reputation and that of her family. She argues that the senator’s televised accusations have brought shame and public disgrace upon her family.

The suit reads: “The Defendant’s statement, made on national television, alleging that the Claimant’s husband, the President of the Senate, made sexual advances towards her without evidence, has severely tarnished the reputation of the Claimant and her family.”

Mrs. Akpabio is seeking the following:

• A ruling affirming that the claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan were defamatory.
• A court order for Akpoti-Uduaghan to issue a public retraction and apology, to be published in two major national newspapers.
• ₦1 billion in punitive and exemplary damages for the harm caused to the Akpabio family’s reputation.
• A permanent injunction barring Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further defamatory remarks.

The lawsuits represent a major escalation in the ongoing dispute between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Akpabio family. The conflict began when Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President exchanged heated words during a Senate session, which she later intensified by accusing him of sexual harassment in a televised interview.

The allegations have ignited a nationwide debate, garnering widespread media attention and sparking mixed reactions across the country.