The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday struck out the criminal charges filed by the Federal Government against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central.
The case was discontinued by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), leading to the court’s dismissal of the suit.
The charges, which ignited national debate on freedom of expression and political accountability, arose from comments allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a televised interview.
The government accused her of making defamatory imputations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, including claims of a plot to assassinate her.
Presiding Justice Chizoba Orji accepted the prosecution’s notice of discontinuance dated December 12, 2025, and struck out the case.
She discharged the senator’s sureties and ordered the return of all related documents. Justice Orji emphasized the importance of prosecutorial restraint in exercising legal powers.
Reacting to the ruling, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed that the outcome vindicated her and reaffirmed her faith in the rule of law.
She thanked her legal team, supporters, and constituents for their unwavering support throughout the legal process.
The defamation suit was initially filed on May 16, 2025, under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, which penalizes making imputations likely to harm an individual’s reputation.
The government cited the senator’s remarks accusing key political figures of conspiring to end her life, including the withdrawal of her security detail.
This dismissal marks the end of a high-profile legal dispute that raised significant questions about political expression and the limits of prosecutorial authority in Nigeria.
