The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially filed a criminal defamation lawsuit against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, accusing him of making derogatory and defamatory statements against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The case, marked CR/547/2025, was filed before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja by Mohamed Babadoko Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to the charge sheet dated September 11, 2025, Senator Nwebonyi—who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District and serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate—allegedly made the controversial remarks between March 3 and March 29, 2025, during interviews on Arise TV, Channels Television, TVC News, and News Central TV.
The prosecution claims that Senator Nwebonyi made malicious statements aimed at tarnishing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s image, referring to her as “a habitual accuser,” “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon,” and “a known blackmailer.”
He allegedly went further to make personal comments about her family life, describing her as “a mother of six from different men”—remarks which prosecutors say violate Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, and amount to criminal defamation.
The Federal Government stated that these utterances were made “with malicious intent and reckless disregard for the truth,” capable of exposing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public contempt and ridicule.
Count One of the charge accuses Senator Nwebonyi of making statements he knew could harm the reputation of another person, contrary to Section 391 and punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code Act.
The case has been scheduled for hearing at the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi is expected to take his plea and defend himself against the allegations.
If found guilty, the offence carries penalties that include imprisonment, a fine, or both, as provided under the Penal Code provisions.
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