Two High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have separately summoned Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations of sexual harassment and defamation. The suits were filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

In one of the suits, a judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Abubakar Idris Kutigi, granted leave to Natasha to serve the writ of summons and other court processes on Akpabio in person and in his official capacity as Senate President. The judge also directed that Mfon Patrick, Senior legislative aide to Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly be served accordingly.

The case, with suit no: FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, is fixed for June 9 for the report of service. Natasha is seeking N100 billion in general damages and N300 million in litigation costs from Akpabio’s aide.

In another suit, no: FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, a different judge, A.O. Otaluka, granted leave for Nwaebonyi to be served by substituted means. The matter was adjourned to June 25 for the report of service.

Natasha had earlier filed a N5 billion defamation suit against Nwaebonyi over a claim that she had six children with different men. The suit was filed by her legal team led by Michael J. Numa, SAN, who described the statements as false and a deliberate attempt to damage the lawmaker’s reputation.

Natasha’s counsel stated that Nwaebonyi made the allegations during a live interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme aired on March 6. The lawyer said the lawmaker called the Kogi senator a “gold digger”, an “habitual liar”, and an “habitual blackmailer” and alleged that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, married her under duress.

Through her lawyer, Natasha further said Nwaebonyi was fully aware that the statements were false and made them to discredit her and justify her illegal suspension by the senate. She also said the lawmaker, a member of the senate committee on ethics and public petitions, made the remarks to influence public opinion against her ongoing petition before the senate.

Among other reliefs, she is asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing or causing the publication of defamatory content about her.