Courts Summon Senate President Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Nwaebonyi Over Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Defamation by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Two separate High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have issued summons to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, following serious allegations brought by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The claims include sexual harassment, defamation of character, and infringement of fundamental human rights.
Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, presiding over one of the courts, granted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan leave to serve court documents on Senator Akpabio both personally and in his official capacity as Senate President. The matter, filed under Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, also directed that Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, Mr Mfon Patrick, as well as the Clerk of the National Assembly, be duly served.
The case was adjourned to 9 June for a report on the service of the court documents, following the granting of Motion No. M/6603/2025. The motion, moved by her legal representative U.J. Udoh, was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit sworn by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a related development, Justice A.O. Otaluka, also of the FCT High Court, granted an order for substituted service on Senator Nwaebonyi in a separate matter (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1359/25). The case pertains to a ₦5 billion defamation suit filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she challenges defamatory remarks allegedly made by Nwaebonyi, including the claim that she has six children by different fathers. The senator’s legal team, led by Barrister Numa, asserts that these statements are baseless and calculated to malign her character and reputation.
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