The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed criminal defamation charges against Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi over alleged defamatory comments about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The five-count charge, marked CR/547/2025, was filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in 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 Sahara Reporters, the charge sheet dated September 11, 2025, claimed that Senator Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North and serves as Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, made the remarks between March 3 and 29, 2025, during appearances on Arise TV, Channels TV, TVC, and News Central, as well as other media platforms.

The prosecution accused the lawmaker of making several damaging remarks about Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling her “a habitual accuser” and “a woman who uses her gender as a weapon.”

He was also quoted as saying, “This woman is a known blackmailer, and people should be very careful with this woman.”

The Federal Government claims the statements were malicious and intended to expose Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to public hatred and ridicule.

The charge sheet further alleged that Nwebonyi went as far as describing her as “a mother of six from different men” and questioned her moral character. The prosecution says these statements violate Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, and are punishable under Section 392 of the same law.

Count One accuses the senator of making imputations knowing they would harm another person’s reputation, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Act.

The statement of offence reads in part:

“That on or about the 3rd day of March 2025, during a live interview on Arise Television’s NewsDay programme in Abuja, you, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, made the following imputation concerning Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan before the programme’s anchors, Aaron Akerejola and Cynthia Areh:

‘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… Are you the only woman in Nigeria? Senator Natasha! What is wrong with you?’

‘This is madness, Nigerian women should rise against this… Senator Natasha is spoiling game 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!’

‘Any slightest provocation, you accuse… Who are you? A mother of six from different men… this is a mother of six from different men and you think her character is not questionable.’

‘She is a habitual accuser of men of sexual harassment.’”

The Federal Government alleges that Nwebonyi knew or had reason to believe that these remarks would damage Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s reputation.

Counts Two to Five also accuse him of similar defamatory remarks made on other media platforms.

The prosecution insists that the comments were made with malice and disregard for the truth, amounting to criminal defamation under Nigerian law.

The case has been slated for hearing at the FCT High Court, where Senator Nwebonyi is expected to enter his plea and defend himself.

If convicted, he faces a possible jail term, a fine, or both under the provisions of the Penal Code.