Koogi Central’s Nonator Natasha Elite-Festival filed a defamation lawsuit over the weekend.
The lawsuit is marked as lawsuit: W/1359:25, filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team on April 7, 2025 in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led by the Nigeria Senior Advocate (SAN) (SAN), Michael Michael Jonathan Numa.
The lawsuit was in which Nwebonyi made harmful remarks to Akpoti-uduaghan in an interview with Channel TV Sunrise Daily Plan on March 6, 2025.
In the interview, Nwebonyi called her “excavator”, “the usual liar” and “the usual blackmailer”, accusing Akpoti-uduaghan of deeming it totally false, malicious and defamatory.
Akpoti-uduaghan’s legal team believes that the unfounded remarks seriously damage her reputation and cause her emotional distress, embarrassment and public ridicule.
The senator believes that the defamatory words are intended to undermine her character and undermine her public status, especially in the eyes of supporters and the broader public.
Nwebonyi allegedly claimed that Akpoti-uduaghan was a “excavator”, a “ccustomed liar” and a “ccustomed blackmailer” and the so-called “mother of six children from different men”.
Akpoti-uduaghan clarified that she had four children from previous marriages and was not involved in Nwebonyi’s claim.
Allegedly, Nweibeni hinted that Akpoti-uduaghan forced her current husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, to marry under coercion, an allegation she strongly denied. She insists that her marriage is legal and based on mutual respect, not coercion or blackmail.
Akpoti-uduaghan seeks the following relief from the court: “Declaring Nwebonyi’s statements are false, defamatory and feasible.
“A permanent ban on further dissemination of defamatory content by Nwebonyi and colleagues.
“The public withdrawal of false statements will be published on the same platform where the allegations are filed and a formal apology will be made in two major national newspapers.
“The aggravation and exemplary damage to her reputation, emotional distress and public embarrassment.
“The interest after judgment on damages is 10% per year until full payment.”
The senator stressed that among the political community and its supporters, Nwebonyi’s alleged falsehood had a direct and harmful effect on her reputation.
The malicious nature of these statements, she said, is not just a criticism, but a representation of intentional undermining her integrity and discrediting her contribution to society and politics.
