The Federal Government has dragged Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, the lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District of Ebonyi State at the Senate, before the courts on five counts of alleged criminal defamation.
It was gathered that the charges stem from alleged inflammatory and derogatory statements the Ebonyi North lawmaker allegedly made against his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State at the State
The five-count indictment, marked CR/547/2025, was filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja by Mohamed Babadoko Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The lawsuit accused Nwebonyi, who also serves as the Senate’s Deputy Chief Whip, of deliberately crafting imputations designed to “harm the reputation” of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, exposing her to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.
According to court documents dated September 11, 2025, Nwebonyi allegedly made several false and damaging statements against Akpoti-Uduaghan across television and online platforms between March 3 and 29, 2025.
One of the charges cited his appearance on Arise TV’s NewsDay on March 3, 2025, where he allegedly said: “This is a woman who accused Yahaya Bello and others 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”.
He also reportedly described her as “a mother of six from different men”, a claim prosecutors said was made “knowing or having reason to believe” it would expose her to public contempt or ridicule.
The charge lists at least five broadcast appearances and one digital instance where similar statements were made, contrary to sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT.
If convicted, the offence carries penalties of imprisonment, fines, or both, under Nigeria’s criminal defamation laws.
Meanwhile, Nwebonyi has denied knowledge of any case filed against him by the federal government.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Romanus Uzor Ozioko, the senator described reports of the suit as “mischievous, unfounded, and fabricated”.
Nwebonyi urged Nigerians to disregard the “politically motivated falsehoods” intended to create tension within the national assembly.
He stated: “Ordinarily, this baseless and malicious report would not deserve a dignified response.
“However, to set the record straight and prevent unsuspecting members of the public from being misled by the antics of political jobbers and mischief makers, the following clarifications are necessary.”
The New Diplomat reports that the development came after months of tension between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
