Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of defamation.
The case was submitted to the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday. Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, were named as the second and third defendants.
According to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Victor Giwa, the lawsuit is based on a Facebook post made by Patrick. The post, titled “Is local content committee of the senate Natasha’s birthright?” allegedly contained defamatory statements against the senator.
The post claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was “all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.”
Giwa argued that the statement damaged the senator’s reputation and lowered her image in the eyes of her colleagues and the public.
“A declaration that the words it is a bottled anger by the Kogi Lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers’ used and written by the 3rd defendant at the prompting of the 1st and 2nd defendants is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection towards the claimant,” the legal documents stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan asked the court to stop the defendants and their associates from making further defamatory statements against her on social media or any other platform.
She is seeking ₦100bn as general damages and an additional ₦300m to cover legal expenses.
This lawsuit follows a recent dispute between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio after her seat was reassigned during a Senate reshuffle. The disagreement led to the senator being referred to the Senate Disciplinary Committee.
She stated that she seeks justice for the harm caused to her reputation, in her legal request.
