On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, instituted a three-count charge against Akpoti-Uduaghan, marked CR/297/25, accusing her of defamation arising from comments made during a live appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, aired April 3, 2025.
The charge alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made statements with the knowledge or reasonable belief that such comments would harm the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The case cites Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, as the basis for the charges.
Prominent individuals listed as witnesses for the prosecution include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, as well as police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, who are part of the investigative team.
In a statement issued Friday night, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), who leads Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, confirmed receipt of the summons and declared their readiness to present a robust defence.
“At about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the FCT High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions containing the three counts against ourclient, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging that she made statements with the intent to harm the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio,” the statement read.
“We acknowledge receipt of the information on her behalf through a letter of authority duly filed at the court’s registry. The legal team will fully prepare and present all factual and statutory defences available to our client during the trial.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, following a heated altercation over her seating arrangement during a Senate plenary session presided over by Akpabio. The suspension, officially for “gross misconduct,” has been described by Akpoti-Uduaghan as illegal, unjust, and part of a wider plot to silence her voice in the Senate.
She further alleged that her suspension was linked to her earlier accusation that Akpabio had sexually harassed her, a claim the Senate has strongly denied.
In the weeks following her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan escalated the standoff by filing multiple petitions against Akpabio and levelling fresh allegations, including claims of an assassination plot allegedly orchestrated by Akpabio and carried out by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. She alleged the plan was to eliminate her outside Abuja and make it appear like a mob or local attack.
In response, both Akpabio and Bello have filed petitions with the Inspector-General of Police, demanding investigations into her allegations and prosecution for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The legal battle is expected to generate significant public interest as it unfolds in court in the coming weeks.
