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ALLEGED DEFAMATION: FG LISTS AKPABIO, YAHAYA BELLO TO TESTIFY AGAINST SENATOR NATASHA
The Federal Government has filed a lawsuit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, over alleged defamatory comments made during a live television interview.
The suit, marked CR/297/25, was filed before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, naming Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant.
According to the government, the senator made statements “knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation would harm the reputation of a person,” citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
Documents obtained by News360 Nigeria reveals that among the listed witnesses for the prosecution are Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Other witnesses expected to testify include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, two investigating police officers, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
Count one of the suit alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made the defamatory remarks during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, aired on April 3, 2025.
It was gathered that Akpabio and Bello are listed as the nominal complainants in the case.
This court action follows a series of confrontations between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio, which escalated after her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as “gross misconduct” following a dispute over seating arrangements.
The senator had described her suspension as illegal, unjust, and an attempt to silence her, rejecting claims that it wasn’t linked to her previous sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President.
Since then, she has made several accusations and filed petitions against Akpabio.
In April, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding an investigation and prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Similarly, former Governor Bello also petitioned the police chief over allegations made by the senator, which claimed he funded and organised a plot to recall her from the Senate and allegedly acted on Akpabio’s instructions to plan her assassination outside Abuja in a staged local attack.
