October 18, 2025
The crisis between senate president, senator Godswill Akpabio and the senator representing Kogi central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has taken a new twist as the Federal Government has filed a five-count criminal charge of defamation against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, who turned himself into Akpbio’s mouth piece during the duo faceoff.
The federal government is accusing Senator Nwebonyi, of waging a sustained media smear campaign against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the case, marked CR/547/2025, filed before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, by Mohamed Babadoko Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions, DPP, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, dated 11 September 2025, Nwebonyi, a 44-year-old lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District and serving as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate allegedly made a series of “vile, false, and disparaging” remarks against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan across several television appearances and online platforms between 3 and 29 March 2025.
The prosecutors alleged that Nwebonyi used major national television stations including Arise TV, Channels TV, TVC News, and News Central Television to make statements “intended to harm and ridicule” Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband, High Chief Emmanuel O. Uduaghan.In what the Federal Government describes as a “calculated campaign of defamation,”
READ MORE; Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Resumes Senate Plenary After suspension
The senator was alleged to have reportedly branded Akpoti-Uduaghan “a habitual accuser,” “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon,” and “a known blackmailer.”He was also quoted as saying on live television that the Kogi senator was “a mother of six from different men,” questioning her moral character remarks which the government argues were malicious, false, and capable of exposing her to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule.
The charge listed at least five broadcast appearances and one digital instance where Nwebonyi allegedly made such statements to include: Arise TV’s NewsDay on 3 March 2025; Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on 6 March 2025; TVC News’ Politics on Sunday on 9 March 2025; News Central Television on 26 March 2025; and Arise TMS Guests Forum WhatsApp group in March (unspecified date).
The prosecution asserted it will tender compelling evidence — including broadcast footage and digital records — to prove that the defendant knowingly embarked on a deliberate character-assassination campaign against a fellow senator.
In Count One, the charge sheet indicated that prosecutors alleged that during a live interview on Arise TV’s NewsDay on 3 March 2025, Senator Nwebonyi declared:“This is a woman that accused Yahaya Bello and others of sexual harassment. Are you the only woman in Nigeria, Senator Natasha? What is wrong with you? This is madness. Nigerian women should rise against this.”
He further described her as “a habitual accuser of men” and “a mother of six from different men,” comments which, according to the prosecution, were made “knowing or having reason to believe” they would harm her reputation.
READ MORE; Mild Drama At Senate Plenary Between Senator Natasha And Senate President Akpabio
Counts Two through Five outline similar alleged infractions on other television programmes within the same period, in violation of Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT.
If convicted, Senator Nwebonyi faces imprisonment, fines, or both, under Nigeria’s criminal defamation laws.
This move, observers say could redefine the limits of free speech and political rhetoric in Nigeria, as the case is projected to be one of the rare occasions where the Federal Government, rather than a private complainant, is initiating legal action for defamation.
