The Federal Government has filed a criminal suit against suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged defamatory statements made during a live television appearance
The case, marked CR/297/25, was filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, is the sole defendant.
According to the charge, the government accused her of making imputations “knowing or having reason to believe” they would harm another’s reputation—an offence under Section 391 of the Penal Code, and punishable under Section 392.
Among the listed witnesses are Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who are also identified as the nominal complainants in the case.
Count one of the charge specifically refers to comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during her April 3 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Other witnesses include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” after a confrontation involving her seating arrangement and Akpabio. She condemned the suspension as illegal and politically motivated, claiming it was a tactic to silence her.
She also rejected the Senate’s denial that her suspension was unrelated to her earlier allegation of sexual harassment.
In the weeks that followed, the Kogi senator publicly criticized Akpabio, filed petitions against him, and accused him of plotting her assassination. In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s prosecution for criminal defamation, incitement, and false accusation.
Bello also petitioned the IGP, following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that he had funded efforts to recall her and had conspired to have her assassinated in a way that would appear as a mob attack.
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Sigh the FG is so less busy