Natasha hits Nwaebonyi with N5bn defamation suit

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a ₦5 billion lawsuit against Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, alleging that he had defamed her in a series of false statements in media interviews in March 2025.

The suit, which is before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, was filed by Senator Natasha’s legal team led by M.J. Numa, SAN.

It  highlights several alleged defamatory statements made by Senator Nwaebonyi on national television platforms, including Channels Television and Arise News.

Natasha’s lawyers are seeking multiple declarations from the court, asserting that the statements were malicious, false, and damaging to her public image.

According to the lawyers, Nwaebonyi had on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on March 6, 2025, allegedly referred to Senator Natasha as a “gold digger,” “habitual liar,” and “habitual blackmailer,” insisting that “these statements were not only false but intended to tarnish her public image and reputation.”

In another interview on Arise News TV, aired on March 3, 2025, Nwaebonyi reportedly claimed that Senator Natasha was “a mother of six from different men,” a claim her lawyers contend were “deliberately made to injure her character and diminish her credibility,” particularly as a public figure and a female politician.

The lawsuit also includes videos published on YouTube, especially one from News Central TV on March 27, 2025 where Nwaebonyi alleged that Senator Natasha’s marriage was a product of blackmail and that she had once demanded ₦10 billion from her husband.

The same video also reportedly contained accusations that she had falsely alleged sexual harassment against a former presidential aide.

“These defamatory statements have since caused the Claimant considerable distress, reputational harm, embarrassment, and emotional distress,” it stated.

Consequently, Natasha claims that these actions have severely damaged her reputation and public standing and asking ₦5 billion in damages as well as  a retraction of the defamatory statements and an apology in national newspapers and other media outlets within seven days of the court’s judgment.

Furthermore, Natasha is seeking an order of perpetual injunction to prevent the Nwaebonyi and his associates from publishing further defamatory comments.

The case is yet to be assigned a hearing date, but the defendant is expected to respond within 21 days from the date of service of the writ.