Reacting to the suit, the senator confirmed she had received the court documents and stated that Akpabio’s legal action had now created the opportunity she was previously denied by the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges to present her claims before a competent court.
In a statement, the Kogi Central lawmaker said the lawsuit “provides the platform” she has long awaited to establish her case. She maintains that she was indeed sexually harassed, insisting that her refusal to yield to the alleged advances triggered a series of political attacks against her.
“See you in court, Godswill Akpabio,” she declared.
The Senate President’s defamation suit accuses Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of spreading malicious claims that portrayed him as a sexual predator who misused his office for personal gratification. Court filings from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory show that Akpabio is seeking ₦200 billion in damages, a nationwide broadcast apology, public retractions, and the removal of all online materials containing the allegations.
According to the Statement of Claim, the interviews granted by Akpoti-Uduaghan—which aired on television, radio, and circulated widely online—subjected Akpabio to public ridicule and inflicted severe reputational harm. The suit also lists multiple witnesses who will testify on behalf of the Senate President.
A court order issued on 6 November 2025 authorized substituted service on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through the Clerk of the National Assembly after several failed attempts to serve her directly.
Legal analysts say the case is now poised to become one of the most closely watched political court battles in Nigeria, with both parties preparing for a turbulent legal showdown.
