JUST IN : FG drags senator to court over alleged defamatory comments against Natasha

The Federal Government has reportedly filed a criminal case against Senator Peteri Nwebonyi for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate.

The suit, marked CR/547/2025, was lodged at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, 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, and obtained by SaharaReporters, Nwebonyi — who represents Ebonyi North and serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate — allegedly made the controversial statements during several media appearances between March 3 and 29, 2025. The interviews reportedly aired on Arise Television, Channels TV, TVC, and News Central, among others.

Prosecutors claim the lawmaker’s comments were aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Akpoti-Uduaghan. Among his remarks, Nwebonyi was quoted as describing her as “a habitual accuser” and “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon.”

He also said, “This woman is a known blackmailer, and people should be very careful with this woman.”

The Federal Government maintains that such statements were malicious and calculated to expose Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to “public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”

The charge further alleges that Nwebonyi made personal and disparaging comments, including referring to the Kogi senator as “a mother of six from different men” and questioning her moral integrity. Prosecutors say these statements violate Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, and are punishable under Section 392.

Count One of the five-count charge accuses Nwebonyi of knowingly making imputations capable of harming another person’s reputation, contrary to the Penal Code.
The charge reads in part: “That on or about the 3rd day of March 2025, during a live studio interview programme ‘NewsDay’ on Arise Television in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, made the following imputation concerning Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan…”

The charge then cites a series of statements attributed to Nwebonyi, including: “This is an attempt to discredit the Senate President, and this is not the first time, just give me some time, this is not the first time this woman is doing this. This is a woman that have accused Yahaya Bello of sexual harassment…This is the same woman that accused Reno Omokri, the former media aide to Jonathan 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 game for Nigerian women trying to enter politics…A mother of six… a mother of six from different men… She has to change! We should condemn evil that is the point… I’m a Christian.Listen! She is a habitual accuser, she is a habitual accuser of men, of sexual harassment.”

The prosecution asserts that Nwebonyi knew or had reason to believe that these imputations would damage Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation.

Counts Two to Five carry similar allegations, each accusing the senator of knowingly making statements intended to harm another person’s character.

The Federal Government insists that the comments were made “maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth,” amounting to criminal defamation.

If found guilty, Nwebonyi faces the penalties outlined under Section 392 of the Penal Code Act — which include imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The case has been scheduled for hearing at the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi is expected to enter his plea.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)