The Federal Government has filed a suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, over alleged defamatory remarks she made on live television.
The suit, filed on May 16, 2025, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, names Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant. She is accused of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” under Section 391 of the Penal Code, CAP 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
The government’s charges stem from accusations by Akpoti-Uduaghan that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to assassinate her. Both Akpabio and Bello are listed as witnesses in the case.
In a televised interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio and Bello conspired to “eliminate” her, alleging her security was withdrawn to make her vulnerable to attacks. She said, “He then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.” The government contends she knew or should have known these statements would damage Akpabio’s reputation.
A second count accuses her of making similar defamatory imputations against former Governor Bello during the same interview.
Additionally, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of, during a phone conversation on March 27, 2025, alleging that the organs of a murdered girl, Imoren Iniubong, were used for Akpabio’s wife, which the government claims also harms Akpabio’s reputation.
The charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar. No arraignment date has been set.
