The Federal Government has initiated a criminal case against suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over allegations of defamation arising from statements made during a live television broadcast. Filed before Justice C. N. Oji at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on May 16, 2025, the three-count charge accuses the senator of knowingly making false imputations likely to harm the reputations of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The case, marked CR/297/25, is being prosecuted by the Department of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Citing Section 391 of the Penal Code and its corresponding punishment under Section 392, the government asserts that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public statements amount to criminal defamation.
The first charge relates to her appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on April 3, 2025, where she alleged that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her. According to court filings, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated on air: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.” She further suggested that her Senate-ordered suspension, which led to the withdrawal of her official security, was deliberately timed to leave her exposed to danger.
The prosecution contends that these remarks were not only baseless but deliberately crafted to malign Akpabio’s reputation and sow public distrust in the Senate’s leadership. The government added that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims posed a serious risk to national cohesion by implying that high-ranking officials could be plotting political assassinations.
In the second count, Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly elaborated that the alleged attempt on her life was to be executed in Kogi State, away from the federal capital, under the influence of Yahaya Bello. The government alleges that this assertion falsely implicated the former governor in a criminal plot and amplified public anxiety over political violence.
The third count stems from a telephone conversation she allegedly had with Sandra C. Duru on March 27, 2025. During this call, she purportedly linked Akpabio to a case involving murder and organ trafficking, a claim the government describes as outrageous and entirely unsubstantiated. Prosecutors argue that such an accusation, especially one referencing a real-life murder case, was maliciously designed to spark public outrage and diminish confidence in the Senate’s leadership.
In its submission, the Federal Government described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s conduct as reckless, inflammatory, and an abuse of her public platform. It maintains that her actions constitute a threat to national peace and political stability.
The court also revealed the full list of prosecution witnesses, which includes Akpabio and Bello, both identified as nominal complainants. Other witnesses listed are Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, who are said to have participated in the investigations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, over a misconduct claim linked to a seating arrangement dispute with Akpabio, has consistently rejected the suspension. She insists it was politically motivated and tied to her earlier allegations of sexual harassment within the upper chamber.
In the wake of her suspension, the senator filed multiple petitions, accusing Akpabio of conspiring to have her eliminated and claiming Bello was executing a recall campaign on Akpabio’s orders. Both men, in turn, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for her investigation and prosecution on grounds of criminal defamation, incitement, and false accusations.
Justice Oji has directed that the defendant be properly served with court papers ahead of the next adjourned date.
