Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, have threatened to sue Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over alleged defamatory remarks he made during a televised interview.
In a legal notice dated March 27, 2025, their solicitors demanded a public apology within 14 days. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in legal action against Nwaebonyi.
The controversy began when Nwaebonyi appeared on News Central TV, where he allegedly made statements suggesting that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had a history of making false sexual harassment claims and insinuated that her marriage to Chief Uduaghan was not based on genuine affection. The interview was broadcast on major platforms, including DSTV, GOTV, Startimes, and AVO, and quickly spread across social media.
The legal representatives argued that these statements were intended to damage their clientsโ reputations, portraying Chief Uduaghan as a victim of blackmail and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as a person of questionable integrity. They further stated that the remarks had caused significant embarrassment and distrust among their political, social, and business circles.
The demand letter insists that Nwaebonyi issue a written apology to be aired on News Central TV and widely circulated online. If he fails to do so within the given timeframe, legal proceedings will commence against him.
This legal threat comes shortly after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed an affidavit with the Senate Ethics Committee supporting her petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She has accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, abuse of office, and interference with legislative duties.
During the interview, Nwaebonyi dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghanโs claims against Akpabio and criticized her for previous allegations, including one against former presidential aide Reno Omokri. He implied that her history discredited her claims and even went as far as questioning her marital history.
The case has drawn public attention, with many awaiting Nwaebonyiโs response to the legal demand. If the lawsuit proceeds, it could set a precedent for defamation cases involving public officials in Nigeria.
