The legal team of suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally received a summons in a defamation case filed by the Federal Government at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The suit, filed on May 16, 2025, and marked CR/297/25, stems from alleged defamatory remarks the senator made during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The Federal Government accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The charges include three counts of criminal defamation.
Key witnesses listed for the trial include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and investigating police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
In a statement issued by Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, the lawyers confirmed receipt of the summons on May 23, 2025, at the FCT High Court and pledged to prepare all “factual and statutory defences” available to their client.
“At about 2:30pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, containing three counts alleging that our client made imputations she had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio,” the statement read.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for “gross misconduct” following a dispute over seating arrangements with Senate President Akpabio. She has described her suspension as illegal and a deliberate attempt to silence her, denying any connection between the suspension and her sexual harassment allegations.
Following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed multiple petitions and made fresh allegations against Akpabio. In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding investigation and prosecution of the senator for “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.” Former Governor Yahaya Bello also petitioned the police over claims that he orchestrated her recall from the Senate.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused Bello of plotting her assassination on Akpabio’s orders, alleging the plan was to make the attack appear as a local mob incident in Kogi State, her home state.
