Based on two ex parte motions, two FCT High Courts have separately summoned Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi who happens to be the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate —over allegations of defamation, sexual harassment, and violation of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s fundamental rights.
Senator Natasha who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate following a fall-out over seat arrangements which later degenerated as she raised issues of sexual harassment and more —filed a ₦5bn defamation lawsuit against Senator Nwaebonyi over statements he made in a live interview on Channel’s Television Sunrise Daily, on 6th March, 2025.
The court’s summon which also includes Akpabio’s senior legislative aide, Mr. Mfon Patrick, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, is based on two ex parte motions.
The first motion was filed on May 10, 2025 and was supported by an eight-paragraph affidavit and argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Michael J. Numa which has led to Nwaebonyi’s summon.
Following the aforementioned ex parte, in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1359/25 under Justice A.O. Otaluka, he granted leave for substituted service of court documents on Senator Nwaebonyi.
Senator Nwaebonyi’s hearing was moved to June 25, 2025 by Justice Otaluka.
Meanwhile, in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/754/2025 before Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, senator Natasha was granted leave to serve the writ of summons and all accompanying processes. The leave also includes personal and office level hearing notices on Senator Akpabio.
This decision is based on an ex parte motion (No. M/6603/2025) moved by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, supported by a six-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Hamzat Mogaji, litigation manager at Victor Giwa & Associates.
Justice Kutigi fixed June 9, 2025, for a report on the service of the summons in Akpabio’s case.
