The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the criminal defamation case filed against the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, bringing an end to a controversial prosecution that generated widespread public and political debate.
Confirmation of the withdrawal was given on Sunday during a telephone conversation with the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Eseme Eyiboh.
The criminal case stemmed from petitions submitted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello against Akpoti-Uduaghan. She had been charged with criminal defamation and cyberbullying over comments allegedly made during a televised interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, in which she claimed there were plans to eliminate her.
Speaking on the development, Eyiboh said the decision aligned with the Senate President’s earlier directive to withdraw all defamation-related cases instituted by him.
“When the Senate President made the decision to withdraw all defamation cases in court, he didn’t say ‘except Natasha’; he said all cases,” Eyiboh said.
Akpabio had announced on Thursday that he had instructed his lawyers to withdraw all defamation suits against individuals, explaining that the decision was influenced by counsel he received during a New Year Mass.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) filed a Notice of Discontinuance dated December 12, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, formally terminating the charges against the senator.
The notice, filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was brought pursuant to Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, as well as under the inherent powers of the court.
It was signed on behalf of the Attorney-General by officials of the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation and duly certified by the court.
The Notice of Discontinuance was filed in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, effectively ending the prosecution.
