The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a five-count criminal charge against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, alleging that he made defamatory and malicious remarks against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The suit, marked CR/547/2025, was 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.
According to court documents dated September 11, 2025, Senator Nwebonyi—who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District and serves as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate—allegedly made the statements between March 3 and March 29, 2025, during televised interviews on Arise Television, Channels TV, TVC, and News Central, among other media platforms.
The prosecution contends that the senator made several damaging remarks aimed at tarnishing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s character, including describing her as “a habitual accuser” and “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon.” He was also quoted as referring to her as “a known blackmailer” and making personal comments about her family and moral conduct.
According to the Federal Government, the statements were “malicious, untrue, and capable of exposing the complainant to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”
The charges were brought under Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, which prohibits making imputations that harm another person’s reputation, and are punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
Count One specifically accuses Senator Nwebonyi of making imputations “knowing that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” citing his comments on Arise Television’s NewsDay programme as evidence.
The charge quotes Nwebonyi as saying:
“This woman is a habitual accuser of men 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.”
The statement further alleges that he referred to Akpoti-Uduaghan as “a mother of six from different men” and questioned her character, remarks the government described as disparaging and defamatory.
Counts Two to Five carry similar allegations tied to other media appearances, with the prosecution asserting that Nwebonyi acted with “reckless disregard for the truth and malicious intent.”
If convicted, the senator faces imprisonment, a fine, or both, as prescribed under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
The case has been slated for hearing at the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi is expected to appear and enter a plea to the charges.
