Senator Nwebonyi Dragged To Court Over Derogatory Comments On Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan
The Federal Government has filed criminal defamation charges against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi over alleged derogatory comments against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Federal Government has filed criminal defamation charges against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi over alleged derogatory comments against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Senator Nwebonyi had in a statement published on several national television stations earlier this year, alleged that Natasha had six children for several men.
If found guilty, Nwebonyi faces imprisonment, fine, or both as stipulated under Section 392 of the Penal Code Act.
Court documents dated September 11, 2025, showed that Nwebonyi appeared on multiple TV platforms including Arise TV, Channels Television, TVC News, and News Central, between March 3 and March 29, 2025, where he allegedly made statements aimed at damaging Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation.
The five count charge number CR/547/2025, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The five count charge number CR/547/2025, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The prosecution accused Nwebonyi of describing the Kogi-born senator as a habitual accuser who uses her gender as a weapon, while also questioning her moral integrity and referring to her as “a mother of six from different men.”
According to the DPP, the remarks were not only malicious but intended to expose Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, and punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.
Count one of the charge quoted Nwebonyi’s interview on Arise Television’s NewsDay programme on March 3, 2025, where he accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false sexual harassment allegations against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The Federal Government further alleged
that Nwebonyi's remarks were calculated to paint Akpoti-Uduaghan as a morally questionable person unfit for public office, even as the other four counts concerned similar comments allegedly made during his appearances on other national broadcast platforms.
According to the government, Nwebonyi’s utterances were made with reckless disregard for the truth, hence they amounted to criminal defamation under the law.
Meanwhile, the case has been fixed for hearing when Nwebonyi is expected to take his plea.
According to the DPP, the remarks were not only malicious but intended to expose Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, and punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.
Count one of the charge quoted Nwebonyi’s interview on Arise Television’s NewsDay programme on March 3, 2025, where he accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false sexual harassment allegations against former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The Federal Government further alleged
that Nwebonyi's remarks were calculated to paint Akpoti-Uduaghan as a morally questionable person unfit for public office, even as the other four counts concerned similar comments allegedly made during his appearances on other national broadcast platforms.
According to the government, Nwebonyi’s utterances were made with reckless disregard for the truth, hence they amounted to criminal defamation under the law.
Meanwhile, the case has been fixed for hearing when Nwebonyi is expected to take his plea.
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