Nigerian Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, filed a N100.3 billion defamation lawsuit against the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio.
The suit was a consequence of the clash between Akpabio and the female Kogi lawmaker which occurred last week over the relocation of her seat in the Senate chamber.
In her suit marked CV/737/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged defamation and demanded N100.3bn in damages.
But, the Senate spokesman, Senator Adaramodu, told Punch that Akpoti-Uduaghan would end up nowhere because, “the parliament enjoys absolute privilege.
“We are not aware of any suit for now but let me state here that the parliament enjoys absolute privilege in the conduct of its affairs and what it does in proper legislative setting is not actionable. This is all we can say for now.”
Senators Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio were engaged in a heated verbal exchange during plenary last week when the Kogi lawmaker protested the relocation of her seat.
So, in a suit, marked CV/737/25, filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 25 February 2025, the Kogi lawmaker accused the Senate President of defamation.
Two other defendants joined in the defamation suit are the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and the Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, alleged that defamatory statements were made by the Senate President and published by his aide on Facebook.
According to the lawyer, the post, titled: “Is the Local Content Committee of the Senate Natasha’s Birthright?” which included a statement suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan believed being a lawmaker was only about “pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers,” was defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, lowering his client’s dignity in the eyes of her colleagues and the public.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is therefore, among other injunctive reliefs, asking the court to order the defendants to pay her N100bn in general damages and N300m as litigation costs.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.