Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, a senator representing Ebonyi North Central, has been ordered to be served by publication in a newspaper by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
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On Wednesday, Justice Angela Otaluk issued the decision after Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senator from suspended Kogi Central, and her lawyer Yahuza Mohammed Zakari filed a Motion Ex Parte in the case dated CV/1359/2025.
On April 10, 2025, Yahuza informed the court in an ex parte motion that the application was requesting a substituted service of notice on the contemnor through publication in a national newspaper or the clerk of the National Assembly or the Senate.
Nwaebonyi was the target of a N5 billion defamation action brought by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who said, among other things, that she had six children by various fathers.
In the lawsuit that her lawyers submitted on her behalf, Akpoti-Uduaghan characterised Nwaebonyi’s accusation as baseless and an effort to tarnish her honour.
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She testified before the court that Nwaebonyi had done irreparable injury to her credibility, humiliated her in front of the public, and caused her great emotional pain.
Let us not forget that the legislator from Kogi also wrote to IGP Kayode Egbetokun, requesting an immediate probe into the situation.
The alleged smear campaign is being led by Sandra Duru, also known as Professor Mgbeke, a Nigerian activist based in the United States, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to the petition dated May 15.
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Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, was also copied on it. The next hearing in this matter is scheduled for June 25.