The Federal Government has filed a five-count criminal defamation charge against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi over alleged defamatory remarks made against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
According to Leadership, the charges, marked CR/547/2025, were filed before 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 (AGF).
According to the charge sheet dated September 11, 2025, Senator Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District and serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, allegedly made the offensive statements between March 3 and 29, 2025, during appearances on Arise Television, Channels Television, TVC, and News Central TV, among other media outlets.
The prosecution alleged that the lawmaker made several malicious statements intended to tarnish Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation, describing 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.”
The Federal Government contends that the comments were “capable of exposing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”
The charge sheet also accuses Senator Nwebonyi of making disparaging personal remarks, including calling her “a mother of six from different men,” and questioning her moral character statements the prosecution said violate Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.
The first count specifically accused Senator Nwebonyi of making imputations he knew would harm Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation.
The statement of offence 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, you, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, made the following imputation concerning Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan…”
During the broadcast, Senator Nwebonyi allegedly said:
“This is an attempt to discredit the Senate President, and this is not the first time this woman is doing this. 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?”
He reportedly continued:
“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 interview, he allegedly stated:
“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 was further quoted as concluding:
“Listen! She is a habitual accuser, a habitual accuser of men, of sexual harassment.”
The prosecution maintains that Senator Nwebonyi “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 remarks made by Senator Nwebonyi on other television stations.
The Federal Government insists 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 slated for hearing before the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi is expected to take his plea and defend himself against the allegations.
The publishing firm has produced an impressive catalogue of authoritative legal texts authored by its proprietor, Basil Momodu, Esq.,
For inquiries, contact:
📧 momodulawpublishing@yahoo.com
📞 07051822705
______________________________________________________________________
“Timely And Groundbreaking” — Babalola, Nnawuchi Release Casebook On Privacy & Data Protection In Nigeria
A timely new publication, Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria, co-authored by Olumide Babalola and Uchenna Nnawuchi, 📘Casebook on Privacy & Data Protection in Nigeria is now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8TmFZrd
______________________________________________________________________
Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
How to Order:
📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878
📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com
🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626
______________________________________________________________________
Alexander Payne Co. Law Reports
Contact & Orders 📞 0704 444 4777 | 0704 444 4999 | 0818 199 9888 🌐 www.alexandernigeria.com
______________________________________________________________________
The books are available for purchase at:
Online: www.educodex.com | www.selar.com | www.amazon.com | www.mikeozekhome.com
Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532
Email: educodexl@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________
Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
