The Federal Government has initiated legal proceedings against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, over comments she allegedly made during a live television interview that the government claims were defamatory.
Filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the case—registered as CR/297/25—lists Akpoti-Uduaghan as the only defendant.
According to the suit, the senator is being charged under Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, for making statements that allegedly damage another person’s reputation.
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The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 392 of the same code.
A list of witnesses submitted with the case includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, both expected to testify during the trial, as reported by The Cable.
Although the complete set of charges is not publicly available yet, the first count accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory comments during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television, on April 3, 2025.
Additional witnesses named in the case include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong; Sandra Duru; investigating police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba. Akpabio and Bello are reportedly the nominal complainants in the matter.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was previously suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as “gross misconduct” after an incident involving a dispute over seating arrangements with the Senate President.
In response to her suspension, the senator maintained, “I believe my suspension was illegal, unjust and a way of silencing me.”
She also contested the Senate’s claim that the disciplinary action was unrelated to her allegations of sexual harassment. Since the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan has continued to voice criticism against the Senate President, submitting multiple petitions and making further allegations.
In April, Akpabio lodged a petition with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan be investigated and prosecuted for, in his words, “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
Similarly, former Governor Bello filed his own petition with the police, disputing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims that he initiated and financed efforts to recall her from the Senate.
She had accused Bello of acting under Akpabio’s directive in a plan to have her assassinated outside Abuja, staging it to resemble a local mob attack.
