Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by the Federal Government against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Udughan, who represents Kogi Central.
The decision to strike out the case followed a formal request by the prosecution attorney, Aderonke Imana, to withdraw the matter.
In response to the prosecution’s move, the Senator’s lawyer, West Idahosa, requested that the case be officially struck out and asked the court to return all legal documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties.
Read Also: FG Approves ‘Big’ Pay Rise For Lecturers
With no opposition from the government’s legal team, Justice Orji ruled in favor of the defense, discharging the sureties and ordering the immediate return of their documentation.
The legal battle began in May 2025, when the Federal Government initiated the suit based on statements the Senator made during a live television broadcast.
According to the government, Akpoti-Udughan was “making an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” an act they cited as a violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code, CAP 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, which carries penalties under Section 392.
The charges centered on grave allegations made by the Senator, who accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring against her life. During the interview in question, she claimed: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.”
She further questioned the Senate President’s actions, stating, “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks. He then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
The Senator concluded her televised remarks by saying, “What is important to me is to stay alive, because dead men tell no tales, who is going to get justice for me?”
The Federal Government had argued that these claims were made with the knowledge or belief that such “imputations would harm the reputation of the Senate President,” though they have now officially discontinued the pursuit of the case.
Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2
DON’T MISS
FG Gives Fresh Directive To Banks, Fintechs Concerning VAT On Service Fees
FG Approves ‘Big’ Pay Rise For Lecturers
