A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has granted an order of substituted service via newspaper publication against Ebonyi North Central senator, Onyekachi Nwaebonyi.

Justice Angela Otaluk granted the order on Wednesday following a Motion Ex Parte filed by suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the suit marked CV/1359/2025 through her counsel, Yahuza Mohammed Zakari.

Yahuza, while moving the motion ex parte dated April 10, 2025, told the court that the application was seeking an order of the court for an order of substituted service of notice on the contemnor by publishing in a national newspaper or through the clerk of the National Assembly or the clerk of the Senate.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit against Nwaebonyi over claims that she bore six children for different men, amongst other allegations.

In the suit filed by her legal team, Akpoti-Uduaghan described Nwaebonyi’s allegation as false and a calculated attempt to damage her reputation.

She informed the court that Nwaebonyi had severely damaged her reputation, causing her significant emotional distress and subjecting her to public embarrassment and harm to her credibility.

Recall that the Kogi lawmaker also petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, seeking an urgent investigation into the matter.

The petition, dated May 15, also names Senate President Godswill Akpabio and US-based Nigerian activist Sandra Duru, popularly known as Professor Mgbeke, as principal actors in the alleged smear campaign.

It was also copied to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The case has been adjourned until June 25 for hearing.