Defamation Showdown: Natasha's N100 Billion Lawsuit Against Akpabio
Due to alleged slander, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator sought N300 million for litigation expenses and N100 billion for general damages.
Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to Mr. Akpabio, was also named as a defendant in the complaint, which was filed on February 25 at the Federal High Court in Abuja by her attorney, Victor Giwa.
The case stemmed from a Facebook post purportedly made by Mr. Patrick after a furious dispute between Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate president last Thursday regarding a change in her Senate chamber seat.
The senator sought N300 million for litigation expenses and N100 billion for general damages.
Mfon Patrick, a senior legislative aide to Mr. Akpabio, was also named as a defendant in the complaint, which was filed on February 25 at the Federal High Court in Abuja by her attorney, Victor Giwa.
The case stemmed from a Facebook post purportedly made by Mr. Patrick after a furious dispute between Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate president last Thursday regarding a change in her Senate chamber seat.
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Alleged defamatory statements
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed in the lawsuit, CV/737/25, that the post was inflammatory, defamatory, and damaging to her reputation.
She referenced an excerpt from the article "Is the Senate's Local Content Committee Natasha's Birthright?"
She contended that the tweet implied that she saw being a lawmaker as little more than "pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers" and implied that she had no knowledge of legislative rules.
According to the senator, these comments were untrue and intended to make fun of her, undermine her reputation, and expose her to disdain from the general public.
She then requested that the court deem the utterances to be defamatory, award her N300 million in litigation expenses, and mandate that Mr. Akpabio and his assistant pay N100 billion in general damages.
She contended that the tweet implied that she saw being a lawmaker as little more than "pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers" and implied that she had no knowledge of legislative rules.
According to the senator, these comments were untrue and intended to make fun of her, undermine her reputation, and expose her to disdain from the general public.
She then requested that the court deem the utterances to be defamatory, award her N300 million in litigation expenses, and mandate that Mr. Akpabio and his assistant pay N100 billion in general damages.
Senate’s disciplinary action
Additionally, disciplinary action had been taken in response to the controversy surrounding Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan's reluctance to change seats.
The Senate sent the case to its Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday so that it may look into it.
The committee had two weeks to present its conclusions and suggestions, and Senator Neda Emasuen of Edo South served as its chair.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend the plenary session on Tuesday.
The Senate sent the case to its Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday so that it may look into it.
The committee had two weeks to present its conclusions and suggestions, and Senator Neda Emasuen of Edo South served as its chair.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan did not attend the plenary session on Tuesday.
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