The Federal Government has filed a legal case against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, over comments deemed defamatory that she made during a televised interview.
According to court documents, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello are expected to appear as witnesses during the proceedings.
The charge stems from statements Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly made on April 3, 2025, during a live broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television.
Other individuals listed as witnesses include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba. Akpabio and Bello are identified as the nominal complainants in the matter.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 over what was described as “gross misconduct” after a confrontation involving her seating position in relation to Akpabio. She, however, has strongly criticized the Senate’s decision, calling it “illegal, unjust and a way of silencing her.” She also dismissed the claim that her suspension was unrelated to her sexual harassment allegations.
In the weeks following her suspension, the Kogi lawmaker submitted multiple petitions targeting Akpabio and made several public accusations against him.
In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in April, requesting action over what he described as “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
Bello also petitioned the police, claiming that Akpoti-Uduaghan had falsely accused him of masterminding and funding efforts to recall her from office. She had further alleged that Bello, acting under Akpabio’s instruction, plotted her assassination to make it appear like a mob attack outside Abuja.
The case, marked CR/297/25, was filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, with Akpoti-Uduaghan named as the sole defendant.
The government alleges she made defamatory imputations “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 charge is punishable under Section 392 of the same code.
