FG Drags Senator Nwebonyi to Court Over Defamatory Remarks Against Senator Natasha

The Federal Government has filed a five-count criminal defamation charge against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi over alleged defamatory statements made against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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.

According to the charge sheet dated 11 September 2025, Senator Nwebonyi—who represents Ebonyi North and serves as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate—allegedly made the remarks between 3 and 29 March 2025 during appearances on Arise Television, Channels TV, TVC, News Central TV, and other media platforms.

The prosecution accuses Nwebonyi of making several malicious statements intended to tarnish Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation, including describing her as “a habitual accuser” and “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon.”

He was further quoted as calling her “a known blackmailer” and making personal remarks about her family life.

According to the Federal Government, the comments were “malicious, false, and capable of exposing the senator to public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”

The charges state that the alleged comments contravene Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the FCT, and are punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.

Count One of the charge specifically accuses Senator Nwebonyi of knowingly making imputations harmful to another person’s reputation, citing his televised interview on Arise News where he allegedly made several disparaging comments about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Each of the remaining four counts also accuses Nwebonyi of making similar defamatory statements across other platforms within the same period.

If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of imprisonment, a fine, or both, as prescribed under the Penal Code.

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