FG Drops Defamation Case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Udughan

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dropped the Federal Government’s defamation case against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Udughan, following the prosecution’s decision to discontinue the matter.

Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court made the order after the government’s lawyer, Aderonke Imana, applied to withdraw the suit.

Counsel to the senator, West Idahosa, subsequently asked the court to formally strike out the case and order the release of all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties.

The prosecution raised no objection to the defence application.

In a brief ruling, Justice Orji struck out the suit, discharged the sureties and directed that all documents submitted by them be returned.

The Federal Government had filed the case in May 2025, accusing Akpoti-Udughan of making defamatory statements during a live television interview.

The charge, instituted on May 16, 2025, cited Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation, which relate to making imputations intended to harm a person’s reputation.

One of the counts arose from comments in which the senator alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello discussed plans to assassinate her.

Prosecutors argued that the remarks amounted to imputations made with knowledge, or reasonable belief, that they would damage the reputation of the individuals named.

With Wednesday’s ruling, the case has been brought to an end, and no further proceedings are expected.

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