Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied reports that he recently filed a N200 billion lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying the claim is incorrect.
In a statement on Saturday by his special assistant on media, Jackson Udom, Senator Akpabio said the suit in question was instituted more than three months ago and not newly filed as stated in online reports.
According to the statement, progress on the matter was briefly delayed by administrative and judicial processes.
Mr Udom said the court’s bailiff made several attempts to personally serve Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan with the originating processes, but the efforts failed.
He referenced an affidavit before the court alleging that she evaded service.
The court later granted an order for substituted service in November.
Akpabio said legal matters should be addressed in court and not through online commentary.
He accused the Kogi senator of focusing on social media reactions instead of responding to the suit.
He also referred to her six-month suspension from the Senate, which he said she attempted to challenge through public comments but eventually completed.
“It is time for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to present the evidence she claims to have before a court,” he said.
Godswill Akpabio added that the suit will proceed through the judicial process and urged the senator to instruct her lawyers and file her defence.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has not issued a formal response to Akpabio’s latest statement.
