The legal team representing suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has confirmed receipt of a formal summons from the Federal Government in a case filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
The suit, marked CR/297/25, was filed on Friday, May 16, 2025, and stems from alleged defamatory comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The Federal Government accuses the senator of knowingly making statements intended to damage the reputation of another individual, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Listed prosecution witnesses include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, Maya Iliya, and Abdulhafiz Garba, two of whom are identified as investigating police officers.
In a statement released Friday night, lead counsel Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) confirmed the legal team’s acknowledgment of the summons, which was formally received at the FCT High Court on May 23. The team pledged to present “all factual and statutory defences” available to the lawmaker.
The statement reads:
“At about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, which contains three counts alleging that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made imputations she knew or had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio.”
The team received the case file on her behalf via a letter of authority filed at the court’s registry.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6 over alleged gross misconduct following a confrontation over seating arrangements involving Senate President Akpabio. She has described her suspension as unlawful, politically motivated, and intended to suppress her voice.
In the weeks that followed, the senator filed multiple petitions and made fresh allegations against Akpabio. In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, calling for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s investigation and prosecution for alleged criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and actions likely to breach public peace.
Former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello also petitioned the police, claiming that the senator falsely accused him of orchestrating a plot to assassinate her on Akpabio’s orders. She had alleged that the plan involved staging the attack outside Abuja to make it appear like a mob incident.
