December 06, (THEWILL) — Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Friday, acknowledged receipt of a newly instituted N200 billion defamation suit filed against her by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, declaring that she welcomed the litigation and was prepared to substantiate long-standing allegations of sexual harassment and political persecution.
Responding in a statement, Natasha said the suit, lodged before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, had finally created an avenue to present her account of events, which, according to her, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions had declined to entertain.
“Today, the 5th of December 2025, I received the newly instituted N200 billion suit filed against me by Senator Godswill Akpabio, alleging defamation on matters relating to sexual harassment”, she said.
Natasha recalled that the Senate Committee had refused to grant her audience on the grounds that an earlier defamation action filed by Akpabio’s wife was pending before a court, and, therefore, the Committee could not consider the substance of her petition. She added that, under Senate rules, she was required to first exhaust internal redress mechanisms before initiating any external legal challenge—leaving her petition in procedural limbo.
According to Natasha, Akpabio’s latest suit had effectively reopened the matter in a forum where she could now request a full judicial examination of her claims.
“I now have the opportunity to demonstrate how I was sexually harassed and how my refusal to succumb to his demands triggered a series of unprovoked and unprecedented attacks on my person. See you in court, Godswill Akpabio”, she said.
A court order dated November 6, 2025, and sighted by THEWILL, showed that Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the FCT High Court granted Akpabio leave to serve the court processes on Akpoti-Uduaghan by substituted means. The judge directed that the writ of summons and accompanying documents be delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly or an authorised official. The matter was adjourned to January 21, 2026, for further proceedings.
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