The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has struck out the defamation suit filed by the Federal Government against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Chizoba Orji struck out the case on Thursday after the prosecution applied to discontinue the suit. The application was made by the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, during court proceedings.
Following the prosecution’s request, counsel to the senator, West Idahosa, urged the court to formally strike out the matter. He also requested the release of all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties. The prosecution did not oppose the application by the defence.
In a brief ruling, Justice Orji struck out the suit, discharged the sureties, and ordered that all documents submitted by the defendant and her sureties be returned to them.
The Federal Government had instituted the suit in May 2025 over alleged defamatory remarks made by the senator during a live television programme. The charge, filed on May 16, 2025, listed Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant.
The government accused the senator of making statements it said were capable of harming the reputation of individuals, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The alleged offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
One of the charges was linked to claims by the senator that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot against her life. The Federal Government argued that the statements were made with knowledge, or reasonable belief, that they could damage the reputation of the persons mentioned.
With the discontinuance of the case and its subsequent striking out by the court, the legal proceedings against the senator have now come to an end.
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