The Federal Government has filed a criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, over comments made during a live television interview.
The case, filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and numbered CR/297/25, names Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant. She is accused of making statements “with the intent or knowledge that they could harm the reputation of another person,” an offense under Section 391 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 392.
According to court filings, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello are listed as key witnesses and nominal complainants in the case. Other witnesses include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
The charges stem from remarks Akpoti-Uduaghan made during her appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television program aired on April 3, 2025. Her comments reportedly accused both Akpabio and Bello of orchestrating plots against her, including a claim that Bello was instructed by Akpabio to plan her assassination and disguise it as a mob attack in Abuja.
This legal development follows growing tension between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership. She was suspended from the Senate on March 6 over what was described as gross misconduct during a confrontation involving Akpabio. The senator, however, dismissed the suspension as politically driven and linked to her earlier allegations of sexual harassment within the Senate.
In the weeks that followed, she submitted several petitions against Akpabio, accusing him of conspiracy, attempted assassination, and abuse of power. She also alleged that Bello launched and financed a campaign to recall her from the Senate on Akpabio’s orders.
In response, both Akpabio and Bello petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, calling for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s prosecution on grounds of criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and behavior threatening public peace.
