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Akpabio’s wife is the “my man, my man, my man” final boss
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Let’s get into the news you missed during the weekend:
Akpabio’s wife is taking Senator Natasha to court
The US has finally made English its official language
The Big Deal
Akpabio’s wife is taking Senator Natasha to court
Akpabio’s wife, Ekaette Akpabio, is securing her spot as the “my man, my man, my man” final boss. But it’s not as cute as it sounds because there is a sexual harassment allegation involved.
On Friday, February 28, Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been vocal about the alleged unfair treatment she’s been experiencing at the Senate, left us all in shock when she said that the Senate president had sexually harassed her.
A couple of hours after Natasha’s claims hit the news, Ekaette Akpabio, who hadn’t been involved in Natasha and Akpabio’s rift, entered the chat with a lawsuit against her. The Senate President’s wife didn’t file just one, but two defamation lawsuits against the Kogi Central Senator, demanding ₦350 billion in damages.
According to her, Akpoti's allegations weren’t just an attack on Akpabio; they had caused emotional and psychological distress to her and their children, leaving the entire family living in fear.
The lawsuits, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, argued that Natasha’s claims, particularly the part where she alleged Akpabio had made advances towards her in his own home, were false, defamatory, and a violation of the Senate President’s fundamental rights. Mrs Akpabio didn’t stop at financial compensation; she also asked the court to issue a restraining order preventing Natasha and her associates from making further statements against the Akpabio family. She also wants an official retraction and an unconditional apology published in two national newspapers.
Meanwhile, inside the Senate chambers, the back-and-forth has landed on the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions desk, chaired by Edo South Senator Neda Emasuen. The committee has been given two weeks to investigate and develop recommendations. So far, Akpabio’s office has remained silent on the matter.
Why is this a big deal?
We respect the support, but Ekaette Akpabio might be fighting a battle that isn’t legally hers to fight. The Nigerian law is clear about its approach towards defamation, and one requirement of this law is that the claimant must be able to prove that the defamatory words refer directly to them. But here we are, with the Senate President’s wife filing a ₦350 billion lawsuit over allegations made against her husband—not her.
And that’s where things get dicey. In Nigeria, the person filing a defamation lawsuit must prove that the accused made a false and damaging statement about them, that the statement was shared with others, and that it directly harmed their reputation. So, unless Ekaette can convince a judge that these claims somehow damaged her reputation, this case might not hold much weight in court.
The bigger question is why Akpabio himself is not suing. If the Senate President truly believes his reputation has been dragged through the mud, the legal system gives him every right to file a case himself. But instead, his wife is taking the lead, citing “emotional distress” for her and their children. Legally speaking, it’s looking shaky.
It also doesn’t help that this isn’t the first time Akpabio has been publicly accused of sexual harassment. Even though he debunked the first claim with an “I’m content with my wife” statement, Nigerians are still not convinced that Senator Natasha is making this up, and his silence isn’t helping.
The US has finally made English its official language
Donald Trump is back at it again with executive orders; this time, he’s making English the official language of the United States (U.S.). If you’ve always assumed that English was the first language in the US, you’re not alone.
On Saturday, the president declared that it’s “long past time” for the US to have a nationally recognized language, saying it will promote unity.
In his executive order, Trump argued that a shared language is key to a “unified and cohesive society” and pointed out that the country’s founding documents, like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were all written in English.
While the White House acknowledges that over 350 languages are spoken in the U.S., the order insists that English has always been the country’s first language. But the numbers say otherwise: nearly 68 million Americans speak a language other than English at home, with over 40 million speaking Spanish alone.
So, while Trump is pushing for a monolingual America, the reality seems to be more diverse. The order is going to be debated in court, and there’s a tiny chance that the courts will shut it down like many of his recent attempts at reshaping the country.
Your next big read
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