The Federal Government has formally withdrawn a case of criminal defamation instituted against the senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan.
The suit was filed by Office of the Attorney General of the Federation following petitions submitted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s ordeal started from statements allegedly made by her during an interview in a national television, wherein she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of being involved in a plot to assassinate her.
Court records showed that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had on December 12, 2025, filed a notice of discontinuance before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, thereby terminating the criminal proceedings against the senator.
According to the notice of discontinuance, the charge was withdrawn in accordance to previsions of Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, as well as under the inherent powers of the court.
The document 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.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had cried out over alleged threats to her life.
Though she was said to have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter, however, she was later arraigned on criminal charges over the issue.
Meanwhile, there was no official statement from the Attorney-General’s office explaining the reasons for the discontinuance of the matter.
In a bid to prove its case, the prosecution counsel has lined up prominent Nigerians including Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, newly sworn in Ambassador Reno Omokri, Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, etc as witnesses
