Posted by Samuel on Sat 06th Dec, 2025 - tori.ng
The senator on Friday said that she received formal notice of the suit dated December 5, 2025, marked Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has responded to Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s ₦200 billion defamation lawsuit filed against her over her public allegation of s*xual harassment.
The senator on Friday said that she received formal notice of the suit dated December 5, 2025, marked Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawsuit—filed by Akpabio through an ex parte motion—claims she defamed the Senate President by accusing him of s*xually harassing her. The matter is before Hon. Justice U. P. Kekemeke, and has been adjourned to January 21, 2026.
In a statement posted on Friday, the Kogi senator said she is ready for the legal battle, insisting the lawsuit finally gives her the platform that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges allegedly denied her.
"Today being the 5th day of December, 2025, I’m in receipt of the newly instituted 200 billion naira suit against me by Senator Godswill Akpabio claiming defamation on s*xual harassment.
"Now, I am glad that Sen. Akpabio has brought this up because the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges failed to grant me audience in this issue relying on the fact that Godswill Akpabio’s wife had instituted a defamatory case against me. Therefore they couldn’t attend to a matter already in court," she wrote.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Senate rules barred her from initiating court action earlier, insisting she was required to first present her complaint before the same Ethics Committee that previously recommended her illegal suspension.
She said the court case now offers her the long-awaited opportunity to lay out her full allegations: "Albeit, I couldn’t proceed to court because by senate rules, I must still present my case before the Ethics committee (same committee that recommended my illegal suspension).
"Alas, I now have a chance to prove how I was s*xually harassed and how my refusal to give into his demands unleashed series of unprovoked and unprecedented attacks on my person. See you in court Godswill Akpabio," she added.
Court documents seen by SaharaReporters show that Akpabio, through an ex parte application dated December, sought leave to serve court papers on Akpoti-Uduaghan via substituted means, specifically through the Clerk of the National Assembly at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
Justice Kekemeke granted the request, allowing the claimant to deliver all originating and subsequent processes—including hearing notices—to any staff in the Clerk’s office.
The suit, accompanied by Motion No. M/12725/2025, revolves around Akpabio’s claim that Natasha’s allegations damaged his reputation.
"AN ORDER of the Honourable Court granting leave to the Claimant/Applicant to serve the Originating Processes, i.e. Writ of Summons and all other subsequent processes including Hearing Notices in this Suit, (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3356/2025) on the Defendant by substituted means to wit, by delivering same to the Clerk of the National Assembly, or any staff in the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
"AN ORDER of the Honourable Court deeming the said mode of service of the processes on the Defendant as good and proper service. AND for such further or other Order(s) as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case."