Court Strikes Out Defamation Suit Against Senator Natasha After Discontinuance By FG

Court Strikes Out Defamation Suit Against Senator Natasha After Federal Government Discontinuance

On January 15, 2026, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja struck out the defamation case instituted by the Federal Government against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

The presiding judge, Justice Chizoba Orji, delivered the ruling after the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, formally applied to discontinue the matter. Following this application, Natasha’s counsel, West Idahosa, urged the court to strike out the case and release all documents belonging to the senator and her sureties.

The prosecution did not oppose this request, leading Justice Orji to discharge the sureties and order the return of their documents.

The defamation suit had been filed in May 2025, accusing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making statements on live television that allegedly harmed the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

The Federal Government cited Section 391 of the Penal Code, CAP 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, which criminalizes imputations likely to damage a person’s reputation, punishable under Section 392. One of the charges stemmed from Natasha’s claim that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate her, with the senator alleging that her security was deliberately withdrawn to make her vulnerable. She asserted that Akpabio emphasized she should be killed in Kogi, remarks the government argued were defamatory and damaging to the Senate President’s reputation.

The discontinuance of the case marks a significant turn in what had been a politically charged legal battle. The Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the suit effectively ended the proceedings, sparing Senator Natasha from further trial. Justice Orji’s ruling not only struck out the charges but also restored the rights of the sureties who had stood for the senator during the case.

This development underscores the tension between political figures in Nigeria and highlights the intersection of law, politics, and public discourse.

For Senator Natasha, the ruling represents a legal victory and a reprieve from allegations that had threatened her political standing.

For the Federal Government, the discontinuance raises questions about the motivations behind initiating and later abandoning such a high-profile case.