The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a five-count criminal defamation charge against Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, over alleged defamatory comments made against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the 10th Senate.
The case, marked CR/547/2025, was instituted before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja by Mohamed Babadoko Abubakar, Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to the charge sheet dated September 11, 2025, Senator Nwebonyi, who also serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, allegedly made the offensive remarks between March 3 and 29, 2025, during appearances on various national television platforms including Arise Television, Channels Television, TVC News, and News Central TV.
The prosecution alleges that the senator made a series of “malicious statements” designed to damage Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation. Among the statements cited was his description of her as “a habitual accuser” and “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon.”
He was further quoted as saying:
“This woman is a known blackmailer, and people should be very careful with this woman.”
According to the Federal Government, the statements were “capable of exposing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”
The charge sheet also accuses Nwebonyi of making personal and disparaging remarks, including calling her “a mother of six from different men” and questioning her moral character—remarks the prosecution says contravene Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, and are punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.
The first count of the charge specifically references his comments during a March 3, 2025 live broadcast of NewsDay on Arise Television.
“This is an attempt to discredit the Senate President, and this is not the first time this woman is doing this,” the charge quotes Nwebonyi as saying. “This is a woman that has accused Yahaya Bello of sexual harassment. This is the same woman that accused Reno Omokri, the former media aide to Jonathan, of sexual harassment. This is a woman I saw on a video yesterday accusing a Minister 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. Senator Natasha is spoiling games for Nigerian women trying to enter politics because nobody will vote for a woman if women can behave this way. Then there is danger if you give them more power.”
In another segment of the same interview, he reportedly added:
“Who are you? A mother of six… a mother of six from different men. Without going to her character, this is a mother of six from different men, and you think that her character is not questionable. I’m going to her character — she has to change! We should condemn evil, that’s the point. I’m a Christian.”
He allegedly concluded:
“Listen! She is a habitual accuser, a habitual accuser of men, of sexual harassment.”
The Federal Government contends that the senator “knew or had reason to believe that these imputations would harm the reputation of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Senator of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Counts two to five of the charge mirror the first, citing similar defamatory remarks allegedly made by Nwebonyi on other television networks during the same period.
The prosecution maintains that the statements were made “maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth,” thereby constituting criminal defamation under Nigerian law.
If convicted, Senator Nwebonyi faces penalties prescribed under Section 392 of the Penal Code Act, which include imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The case has been formally scheduled for hearing at the FCT High Court, where the senator is expected to enter his plea and respond to the allegations.
