Natasha: Two Courts Summon Akpabio, Nwaebonyi

Two Federal Capital Territory High Courts on Thursday, separately summoned the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, over allegations of defamation, sexual harassment, and violation of the fundamental rights of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

One of the courts presided over by Justice 

Abubakar Idris Kutigi, granted leave to Akpoti-Uduaghan to serve the writ of summons and all accompanying processes—including hearing notices—on Senator Akpabio, both personally and in his capacity as Senate President, in suit number FCT/HC/CV/754/2025 before the court 

The Clerk of the National Assembly and the senior legislative aide to Akpabio, Mr. Mfon Patrick are to served the summons. 

Justice Kutigi fixed June 9, 2025, for report of service of the summons.on the defendants.
The court’s order followed an ex parte motion (No. M/6603/2025) moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a related development, in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, Justice A.O. Otaluka also granted leave for substituted service of court documents on Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, following an ex parte motion filed on May 10, 2025, supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and argued by Michael J. Numa, SAN.
The matter was adjourned to June 25, 2025, for further hearing.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, filed a suit claiming ₦5b damages for defamation against Senator Nwaebonyi.
Natasha is challenging statements made by Nwaebonyi during a live appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on March 6, 2025.