The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally withdrawn the criminal defamation case filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, according to court documents now available.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly. A notice of discontinuance filed on December 12, 2025, by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) informed the Federal High Court that the government would no longer pursue the criminal charges against her.
The case stemmed from petitions submitted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. These petitions followed comments made by the senator during Channels Television’s Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where she alleged that both men were plotting to eliminate her.
Despite earlier writing to the Inspector-General of Police to report alleged threats to her life — a petition she claimed received no response — Akpoti-Uduaghan was later charged with criminal defamation and cyberbullying for making the allegations publicly.
During the proceedings, several high-profile individuals were listed as witnesses, including Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and Sandra Duru.
The withdrawn charge is one of two criminal cases instituted by the Federal Government against the senator. The second case, also filed by the government, is expected to come up in court on Monday and may also be discontinued.
Importantly, both criminal cases were filed by the Federal Government and not by Senate President Akpabio in his personal capacity.
The development follows Akpabio’s recent public pledge to withdraw all defamation-related lawsuits he had initiated against various individuals. Speaking during a church programme on January 1, the Senate President said a sermon by a cleric prompted him to rethink his actions.
“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” he said. “But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
While the criminal charge has now been dropped, Akpabio’s ₦200 billion civil defamation suit against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains active. Filed in December 2025 at the FCT High Court, the suit accuses her of making false allegations of sexual harassment and seeks massive damages, public retractions, and nationwide apologies, arguing that her claims caused serious damage to his reputation.
