Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), accusing her of falsely portraying him as a "sexual predator" through repeated public allegations of harassment that damaged his reputation and exposed him to national ridicule. The suit, docketed as FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025 before Justice U. P. Kekemeke at the FCT High Court, demands massive damages, immediate retraction of all online and media content, and mandatory public apologies broadcast nationwide for consecutive days across TV, radio, and digital platforms. Akpabio's legal team argues the claims aired in interviews and social media—were "malicious and injurious," lacking evidence despite prior Senate Ethics Committee scrutiny, and seeks substituted service after alleged evasion by Akpoti-Uduaghan, granted on November 6 via the National Assembly Clerk.
Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed receipt of the suit on December 5, 2025, via Facebook and Instagram, framing it as a breakthrough: "Today, I'm in receipt of the newly instituted 200 billion naira suit... This gives me the chance to prove how I was harassed," claiming Senate leadership previously blocked her petition by citing an ongoing court matter. She insisted on a full trial, reigniting their feud that led to her six-month suspension in March 2025 over seat relocation protests, where she labeled Akpabio a "dictator" amid office sealing and delayed resumption until September. Akpabio's aide, Jackson Udom, clarified the suit—filed over three months ago—was not "fresh" but delayed by service issues, urging court resolution over social media and denying harassment claims as baseless.
The high-stakes clash, one of the 10th Senate's most explosive, underscores deepening rifts, with Akpoti-Uduaghan vowing no apology upon return and Akpabio positioning the case to vindicate himself before a "competent jurisdiction". Observers anticipate intense scrutiny as the November substituted service propels proceedings, potentially reshaping Senate dynamics amid public debates on accountability and gender allegations in politics. Court dates pending.