Senator Nwaebonyi faces legal threat over alleged defamatory remarks against Uduaghan, Wife

The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, is at risk of legal action over alleged defamatory comments directed at Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan and his wife, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Legal representatives of the couple have formally demanded a public apology from the Ebonyi senator, warning that failure to comply would lead to a lawsuit.

A letter dated March 27, 2025, with reference WIC/W/AB/W3/25, was issued by the solicitors representing Chief Uduaghan, a high-ranking chief in Warri Kingdom, and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who serves as the representative of Kogi Central Senatorial District. The letter accuses Nwaebonyi of making damaging remarks during a television interview.

According to the legal team, the statements were aired on News Central TV and its partner platforms, including DSTV, GOTV, Startimes, and AVO.

During the interview, Nwaebonyi allegedly insinuated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had a habit of falsely accusing people of sexual harassment and suggested that her marriage to Chief Uduaghan was forced rather than built on mutual love.

These remarks quickly spread across social media, leading to backlash and claims that the senator was deliberately trying to damage the couple’s reputation.

The solicitors argued that Nwaebonyi’s comments painted Chief Uduaghan as a victim of blackmail and portrayed Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in a negative light, causing serious reputational damage. They emphasized that the accusations had led to distrust and embarrassment among their political, social, and business circles.

The demand notice instructed Nwaebonyi to issue a written public apology within 14 days, to be broadcast on News Central TV and shared widely on social media.

The letter warned that if the senator fails to comply, legal action will be taken against him to seek redress.