The Federal Government has filed a criminal suit against suspended senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over comments made during a televised interview that authorities claim were defamatory and damaging to reputations.
Filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, the suit — marked CR/297/25 — lists Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant. She represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly but was suspended from the Senate in March over what was described as “gross misconduct”.
In the court documents, the Federal Government accuses the senator of “making imputations knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” citing Section 391 of the Penal Code. The offence, classified as criminal defamation, carries a penalty under Section 392 of the same law.
The allegations stem from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired by Channels Television on April 3, where she is alleged to have made statements considered damaging to the reputations of prominent political figures.
Among those listed to testify in the trial are Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello — both named as nominal complainants. Other prosecution witnesses include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and two police investigators, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
The legal battle follows weeks of intensifying political drama. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate on March 6 after a heated dispute involving seating arrangements and what she later described as attempts to silence her.
The lawmaker, who has maintained that her suspension was unconstitutional, has accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment and raised multiple petitions against him. In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, alleging criminal defamation and incitement. He urged law enforcement to prosecute the senator under relevant Nigerian laws.
Former Governor Bello also petitioned the police, denying claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan that he orchestrated and financed efforts to recall her from the Senate. The senator had further accused Bello of working on Akpabio’s instructions to facilitate her assassination through a staged mob attack outside Abuja — an allegation both men have strongly denied.
The court is expected to begin hearing the case in the coming weeks. The outcome could have significant implications for political speech, parliamentary conduct, and the boundaries of immunity for elected officials in Nigeria.
