Two Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Courts have summoned Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Chief Whip Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi in separate cases involving allegations of defamation, sexual harassment, and violations of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fundamental rights.
In suit No. FCT/HC/CV/754/2025, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi granted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan permission to serve writs of summons and related court documents—including hearing notices—on Senator Akpabio personally and in his official capacity as Senate President.
The court also included Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, Mr. Mfon Patrick, and the Clerk of the National Assembly in the summons.
Justice Kutigi scheduled June 9, 2025, for a report on the status of the summons service.
The court issued the ruling after U.J. Udoh, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, moved an ex parte motion (No. M/6603/2025), supported by a six-paragraph affidavit sworn by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
In a related case, suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1359/25, Justice A.O. Otaluka also approved a request to serve court papers on Senator Nwaebonyi through substituted means.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Michael J. Numa, who represents Akpoti-Uduaghan, filed the ex parte motion on May 10, 2025, and supported it with an eight-paragraph affidavit.
Justice Otaluka adjourned the case to June 25, 2025, for further proceedings.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently under a six-month suspension from the Senate, has also filed a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Nwaebonyi. She is challenging remarks he made during a live appearance on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily on March 6, 2025.
