The Nigerian Senate has rallied behind its President, Godswill Akpabio, following a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit filed against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The lawsuit, marked CV/737/25, stems from a heated altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio during plenary last week over the relocation of her seat. The dispute escalated to the point where the Senate President called for security to remove her from the chamber, though other lawmakers intervened.
In response to the suit, Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu dismissed its validity, asserting that the legislature enjoys absolute privilege in conducting its affairs.
“We are not aware of any suit for now, but let me state here that the parliament enjoys absolute privilege in the conduct of its affairs, and what it does in a proper legislative setting is not actionable,” Adaramodu told The journalists.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawsuit also names the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mfon Patrick, the Senate President’s Senior Legislative Aide, as defendants.
Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, alleged that a Facebook post by Patrick, reportedly at Akpabio’s prompting, contained defamatory remarks that diminished her public image. The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, suggested that the Kogi lawmaker saw her legislative role as merely about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.”
Giwa argued that the statement was defamatory, provocative, and damaging to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dignity among her colleagues and the public.
As part of her demands, she seeks:
- A declaration that the statement was defamatory and aimed at bringing her into public disrepute.
- A perpetual injunction preventing the defendants from making further defamatory remarks.
- N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court has yet to schedule a hearing for the case.
