Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Onyekachi Nwaebonyi of Ebonyi North Central Senatorial District, who currently serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate.

The legal action follows statements made by Nwaebonyi during a March 6, 2025 interview on Channels TV's "Sunrise Daily" program. According to court documents filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan's legal team led by M.J. Numa, Nwaebonyi allegedly made several defamatory claims, including that Akpoti-Uduaghan "had six children for different men" and that her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, "married her under duress."

The lawsuit (CV/1259/25) contends that Nwaebonyi also referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan as a "gold digger," "habitual liar," and "habitual blackmailer" during the nationally televised broadcast, which was subsequently shared across multiple online and social media platforms.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, argues these statements were deliberately false and malicious, intended to damage her reputation and "justify her illegal suspension by the Senate." She further claims that Nwaebonyi, who sits on the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, made these "false and reckless statements to prejudice the mind of the public against the claimant's petition before the Senate."

In her filing, Akpoti-Uduaghan describes herself as "an inspiration to women in politics" who is "not spoiling the chance of women in politics as falsely alleged, rather she is inspiring women to be bold in their quest for politics and good governance."

The suspended senator is seeking a permanent injunction against further defamatory statements, a formal retraction on the same platforms where the comments were made, public apologies in at least two national newspapers, and N5 billion in damages. She has also requested 10% annual interest on any judgment amount from the date of delivery until full payment.

No hearing date has been scheduled yet.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​