Akpabio sues Natasha Akpoti for ‘defamation’ over sexual harassment allegations, seeks N200bn damages

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a N200 billion defamation suit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, over sexual harassment allegations made against him.

Akpabio instituted the suit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja.

Confirming the development, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a Facebook post on Friday, said the case will give her a “chance to prove how I was sexually harassed”.

The Kogi senator expressed joy that the senate president took the court route, adding that she was previously denied the opportunity to prove her allegations.

“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,” she wrote.

“Now, I am glad that Sen. Akpabio has brought this up because the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges failed to grant me audience in this issue relying on the fact that Godswill Akpabio’s wife had instituted a defamatory case against me. Therefore, they couldn’t attend to a matter already in court.

“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.”

In the Facebook post, the Kogi senator attached the order of U.P. Kekemeke, the judge, directing that she should be served via substituted means through the clerk of the national assembly.

The order was issued November 6. The case is expected to commence on January 21, 2026.

In February, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an interview on Arise TV, alleged that the senate president made sexual advances at her in his office and residence in Akwa Ibom.

The lawmaker alleged that her trouble in the senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.

Akpabio had denied the allegations.

Prior to the allegations, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan had engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements.