The Federal Government has instituted a suit against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged defamatory remarks made on live television.
The charges, brought through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, are contained in suit number CR/1277/25 and are pending before Justice C.N. Oji at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The suit filed on May 16, 2025, has Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant, accusing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making statements intended to harm reputations, in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 392.
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 Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, will testify during the trial.
One of the charges is linked to the allegations Akpoti-Uduaghan, wherein she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
The Federal Government is accusing 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 Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
The first count focuses on an interview the Senator granted on Channels Television’s political programme Politics Today on April 3, 2025, where she alleged that Senate President Akpabio, in concert with Yahaya Bello, plotted to assassinate her.
During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, ehm… to eliminate me.”
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“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.
“What is important to me is to stay alive, because dead men tell no tales, who is going to get justice for me?” a statement FG said, the Senator knew or had reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation of the Senate President.
In count two, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of “Making an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under Section 392 of the same Law.
“That you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on or about the 3rd day of April 2025, during the same Politics Today programme on Channels Television in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, made the following imputation concerning Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me. When he met with him, he then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.
“You knew or had reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State”, the charge added.
The prosecution contended that these allegations, made on national television, not only tarnished the character of Bello, but also presented a grave national security concern, especially given the implications of political violence.
In a third charge, the Federal Government alleged that on March 27, 2025, during a telephone conversation with one Sandra C. Duru, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made a horrifying claim implicating Senate President Akpabio in an alleged killing and organ harvesting.
According to court documents, she stated:“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.
“You knew or had reason to believe that such imputation would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio”, the Federal Government alleged in the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar.
The Federal Government averred that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan acted recklessly and with malicious intent, abusing her public platform to spread defamatory and inflammatory statements that have far-reaching consequences for national peace, security, and democratic integrity.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was not in court as she allegedly refused service from bailiffs.
Justice Oji, however, ordered that efforts should not be spared in ensuring that she is served before the next adjourned date.