…to face disciplinary committee over heated argument with Akpabio
The Senator representing Kogi Central in the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dragged the President of Nigeria’s Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio before high court for allegedly defaming her
The lawmaker had voiced her concern after her seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the majority wing.
She had resisted the relocation and this led to a clash between her and the senate president.
However, in the suit filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on February 25,2025, the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick were listed as second to third defendants.
In the suit marked: CV/737/25 Akpoti-Uduaghan through her lawyer, Victor Giwa claimed that the words by the Senate President and published by his aide on his Facebook page with the title, “Is local content committee of the senate NATASHA’s BIRTHRIGHT”, where he stated that claimant though being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.
Giwa noted that the statement on Akpoti-Uduaghan was defamatory, provocative, disparaging, and lowered her dignity in the eyes of her colleagues and right-thinking members of the public.
Among others, the Senator sought the following from the high court;
“A declaration that the words “it is a bottled anger by the Kogi Lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers” used and written by the 3rd Defendant at the prompting of the 1st and 2nd Defendants is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection towards the Claimant by members of the public,” her reliefs partly read.
Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the court to restrain the defendants or associates from publishing defamatory words against her on any platform.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants whether acting by themselves, or through their agents, privies, assigns or associates from further publishing or caused to be published the said defamatory words herein stated or any other similar publications about the Claimant on the social media platform or in any other manner, which is capable of defaming the Claimant,” she stated.
She, however, urged the court to order the defendants to pay her N100bn as damages and N300m as litigation costs.
“An order for payment of the sum of N100, 000,000,000 as general damages.
An order for payment of the sum of N300, 000,000.00 only as Cost of action,” she said.
Meanwhile, no date has yet been fixed for hearing of the suit having not been assigned to any Judge.
To face disciplinary committee over heated argument with Akpabio
Meanwhile, the Senate has unanimously voted to refer Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, for disciplinary review, following a standoff over seating arrangements.
Salient Times had reported how the Kogi Senator had a heated argument with Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after discovering that her seat had been changed without her consent.
Chaired by Senator Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo South), the committee has been given two weeks to report back on its findings.
This followed a voice vote after lawmakers revisited the controversy surrounding the issue, with lawmakers underpinning the need to uphold parliamentary rules and decorum.
Raising a motion under Senate Orders 1(b) and 10, Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), condemned what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the February 20 plenary session.
He urged the Senate leadership to enforce discipline, warning that “Where there is sin, there must be a penalty.”
Weighing in the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, supported Adaramodu, reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order.
“There is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules. Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Integrity is non-negotiable,” he said
Responding, the Senate President directed the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to review the entire incident and report back to the chamber.
He recalled that the Senate rules allow members to sit anywhere, but contributions must be made from their designated seats.
While suggesting that unfamiliarity with Senate procedures may have contributed to the altercation,
Akpabio stated that “the first day she was sworn in, she stood up to contribute, and I was worried if she had even read the rule book. There is nothing wrong with being vibrant, but everything wrong with disobeying procedure.”
Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of Senate rules, the Senate President underscored that all senators must conduct themselves with decorum, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water or being disruptive during sittings.
He said: “The rules empower the Senate President to suspend a senator for infractions for at least 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules, it’s in the rule book.”
