The Nigerian Federal Government has launched a legal battle against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker of Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State, over alleged defamatory remarks.
The Federal Government charged Senator Natasha to court over alleged defamatory remarks made on live television.
It was gathered that the suit marked CR/297/25 was filed before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025.
The suit only has Senator Natasha as the sole defendant.
The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will 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.
The list of witnesses shows that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, will testify during the trial.
Count one of the charges accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory allegations during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
Other witnesses listed to testify in the suit include Asuquo Ekpenyong, a senator; Sandra Duru; Maya Iliya, investigating police officers; and Abdulhafiz Garba, investigating police officers.
Recall that Senator Natasha’s defamation remarks case arose from her April 3, 2025, appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where she accused Akpabio and Bello of plotting her assassination.
Also, the lawmaker, during a Kogi State rally on April 1, 2025, alleged that Akpabio directed Bello to orchestrate her killing in a way that implicated her constituents.
All these came after Senator Natasha was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following her seating arrangement altercation with Akpabio.
The lawmaker said she believed her suspension was illegal, unjust and a way of silencing her.
She also rejected the Senate’s position that she was not suspended over her sexual harassment claim.
