The Federal Government has filed a criminal case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, over alleged defamatory statements made during a televised interview and a phone conversation.
According to court documents obtained by ADBN TV, the suit was filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, with Akpoti-Uduaghan listed as the sole defendant.
The prosecution alleges that the senator made public imputations that could harm the reputation of individuals, specifically Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The charges cite Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
One of the charges relates to remarks made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live broadcast on Politics Today, where she accused Akpabio and Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me,” she alleged.
“Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks? He then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
In a second count, the senator allegedly repeated the same claim against Yahaya Bello, saying the plan to eliminate her was discussed and emphasized during a meeting with Akpabio.
In a third charge, the Federal Government accuses the senator of making further defamatory claims during a private telephone conversation with one Sandra C. Duru, alleging that:
“That girl that was killed, what’s her name, umm Imoren Iniubong, her organs were actually used for the wife, because the wife was really ill… when they killed the girl, and her organs were used for the wife.”
The prosecution, led by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), argues that Akpoti-Uduaghan knew or had reason to believe that her statements would damage the reputations of Akpabio and Bello.
The list of witnesses includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello, who are both expected to testify.
As of the time of reporting, no date has been set for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s arraignment.
See the charge sheet below:
