Senator Natasha sues Akpabio for alleged defamation, seeking ₦100 billion.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a complaint against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allegedly defaming her.
The complaint was filed in the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday, with Akpabio and his senior legislative aide Mfon Patrick named as the second and third defendants.
In the suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer Victor Giwa, referred to Akpabio’s words published by his aide on his Facebook page with the title, “Is local content committee of the senate Natasha’s birthright?” in which he stated that the claimant believed being a lawmaker was all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the chambers.
Giwa claimed that the statement about Akpoti-Uduaghan was libellous, inflammatory, and insulting, and that it reduced her standing among her colleagues and right-thinking members of the public.
“A proclamation that the words ‘it’ are bottled fury by the Kogi Lawmaker, who is unfamiliar with parliamentary regulations. She believes that 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 request 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 read.
READ ALSO: Drama unfolds in the Senate over seat arrangements
A file photo of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan sought the court to prevent the defendants and their associates from publishing defamatory statements about 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,” according to her.
The plaintiff requested that the defendants compensate her with ₦100 billion in damages and ₦300 million in litigation fees.
“Order for payment of ₦100,000,000 for general damages. She requested a payment of ₦300,000,000.00 for the cost of action.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan recently expressed worry after her seat was reassigned owing to a rearrangement. She opposed the move, which resulted in a conflict with the Senate President.
The Kogi legislator has been brought to the Senate Disciplinary Committee as a result of the seating arrangement issue.