Ekaette Akpabio, wife of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has taken legal action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, filing two separate lawsuits at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The cases stem from allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, claiming that her challenges in the Senate began after she rejected sexual advances from the Senate President.
In the first suit (CV/814/25) concerning fundamental human rights, Mrs. Akpabio accused the senator of making false and damaging statements that allegedly caused emotional distress to her and her children, leaving them fearful.
She urged the court to declare the claims a violation of her right to dignity under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
She is seeking N250 billion in damages and a perpetual injunction preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further accusations.
The second suit (CV/816/25) is focused on defamation, with Mrs. Akpabio arguing that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations have tarnished her family’s reputation.
She is demanding N1 billion in damages and a public apology published in The Guardian and ThisDay newspapers.
“The allegations have caused untold pain and emotional trauma to me and my family,” she stated in her court filings.
The court is yet to set a date for the hearings.
Tensions between the two lawmakers began after Akpoti-Uduaghan discovered her Senate seat had been reassigned without prior notice.
Her protest during a plenary session led to a brief disruption, after which the matter was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, headed by Senator Neda Imaseun, for investigation.
The committee was given two weeks to submit its findings.
Following this, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a N100 billion defamation lawsuit against Akpabio and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, over a Facebook post titled “Is Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”
The controversy escalated further when Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, reiterating her claims and alleging that some colleagues had advised her to accept the seat change as part of a wider plot against her.
Meanwhile, Ekaette Akpabio dismissed the allegations against her husband as false and baseless.
“My husband is a disciplined man who respects women,” she asserted.
