Fresh evidence has emerged contradicting the claim by the Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, that he was never charged to court by the Federal Government over alleged use of vile language against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Court documents obtained from the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, show that a criminal charge marked CR/547/2025 was indeed filed by the Federal Government against Senator Nwebonyi, contrary to his public denial. The certified court statement, signed on September 19, 2025, confirmed that the case was formally entered before the Abuja High Court and remains on the cause list pending hearing.
This revelation runs counter to an earlier statement issued by Senator Nwebonyi through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Romanus Uzor, in which the lawmaker dismissed reports of his prosecution as “baseless, mischievous, and fabricated.”
“The publication alleging that the Federal Government filed a suit against me can only be described as unfounded and malicious. It is a creation of political jobbers and attention seekers,” Senator Nwebonyi had said, insisting that no such case existed.
He further argued that it would be “legally illogical and procedurally impossible” for the same Federal Government to file a case against him on the same issue involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, claiming instead that the government had earlier instituted a criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha.
However, court filings reviewed by journalists indicate otherwise. The charge number CR/547/2025: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, was duly entered in the Abuja High Court registry and bears the official seal and signature of the Court Registrar.
Legal analysts who spoke on the matter described the Senator’s denial as “misleading,” noting that court documents are public records that cannot be dismissed by mere press statements.
A senior lawyer familiar with the case, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak officially, said:
“The charge exists in the court system. It is not a rumour or media fabrication. The matter has been filed, assigned a charge number, and acknowledged by the Federal Ministry of Justice. The next procedural step is arraignment.”
Efforts to reach the Federal Ministry of Justice for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of press time, but judicial sources maintained that the case file remains active in the court’s docket.
The controversy erupted following reports that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Justice, had initiated criminal proceedings against Senator Nwebonyi over alleged defamatory and indecent remarks directed at Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in a public forum earlier in the year.
While Nwebonyi’s media aide had described the report as a smear campaign “crafted to misinform and mislead the public,” the emergence of documented court evidence has fueled public scrutiny and questions about the Senator’s credibility on the issue.
Observers say the unfolding development underscores the importance of factual transparency in public communication, especially when legal processes are involved.
Meanwhile, court insiders confirmed that the case has not yet been assigned a trial date, though preliminary filings indicate that the matter will be heard before a designated judge of the FCT High Court once formal arraignment proceedings commence.
As the controversy continues, the public awaits an official statement from the Federal Ministry of Justice or the presiding court to clarify the next steps in the matter.
