Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has received a formal summons in the federal government’s case filed against her at the Federal Capital Territory High Court last week.
On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Federal Government filed suit, CR/297/25, for claimed defamatory remarks made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
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, Section 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Among the witnesses scheduled to appear during the trial were Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Yahaya Bello, a former governor of Kogi State.
Others include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, Maya Iliya, and Abdulhafiz Garba, all of whom are investigating police officials.
However, in a statement issued Friday night by Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) on behalf of the legal team, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers confirmed receipt of the formal summons and committed to prepare all “factual and statutory defences” available to the legislator during trial.
“At about 2:30pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, containing three counts alleging that our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, made imputations she had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate,” the statement read.
“We received the said information on her behalf through a letter of authority duly issued and filed in the court’s registry.
“The legal team will fully prepare and present all factual and statutory defences available to our client during the trial.”
Natasha was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a dispute about seating arrangements with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The lawmaker called her suspension unconstitutional, unjust, and a deliberate attempt to suppress her.
Natasha also questioned the Senate’s contention that her suspension had nothing to do with her sexual harassment allegation.
In the weeks that followed, the Kogi senator filed more petitions and made new claims against the Senate President.
In April, Akpabio filed a plea with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assassination accusation against him.
He urged for an immediate inquiry and punishment of the senator under relevant legislation for “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”.
Former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello had also petitioned the IGP over Natasha’s claims, stating that he was behind the move to recall her from the Senate.
She accused Bello of acting on Akpabio’s orders to stage her assassination outside of Abuja, making it appear like a mob or local attack.
