AMIDST ₦1.3 BILLION DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST AKPABIO, SENATE REFERS NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN TO DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

AMIDST ₦1.3 BILLION DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST AKPABIO, SENATE REFERS NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN TO DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

The Nigerian Senate has referred Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions over her conduct during plenary last Thursday. This comes just days after Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a ₦1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, his aide Mfon Patrick, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


Plenary Dispute Leads to Disciplinary Probe

The controversy in the Senate erupted after Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, raised a point of order expressing concern over misleading media reports about the events that unfolded in the chamber. He emphasized the need to protect the Senate’s integrity from misrepresentation.

Following his remarks, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Minority Leader Abba Moro, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim all criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct and urged the Senate to investigate the matter further.

Reacting to the incident, Senate President Godswill Akpabio cited Order 66(2) and Section 55 of the Senate rules, which mandate decorum in the chamber, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water, or engaging in disruptive behavior during sessions. The Senate then voted to refer the matter to the Ethics Committee, which is expected to submit its findings within two weeks.

Defamation Lawsuit Against Akpabio

While facing scrutiny from the Senate, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has also taken legal action against Akpabio, his media aide Mfon Patrick, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The lawsuit, filed on February 25, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, stems from a Facebook post allegedly made at Akpabio’s prompting.

The post, titled “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?”, accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of focusing more on makeup and wearing transparent outfits than on legislative duties. Her legal team, led by Victor Giwa, described the statement as defamatory and damaging to her reputation and career.

She is seeking ₦1.3 billion in damages, including ₦1 billion in general damages and ₦300 million in litigation costs, along with a court order restraining Akpabio and his aides from making further defamatory remarks against her.

Tensions Mount as Ethics Committee Investigation Looms

The timing of the Senate’s disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan, coinciding with her legal battle against the Senate President, has raised concerns about political bias. While Senate leadership insists that the disciplinary investigation is based on parliamentary rules, some analysts see it as an attempt to silence a vocal female senator who has challenged the status quo.

As the Ethics Committee investigation progresses, and the defamation case unfolds in court, political observers will be closely watching how these events impact Akpoti-Uduaghan’s career, the Senate’s credibility, and broader discussions about gender, power, and free speech in Nigeria’s legislative space.


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