Court Dismisses Defamation Suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has dismissed the criminal defamation charges filed against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following the Federal Government’s decision to discontinue the case.

The trial court struck out the charges on Thursday after the prosecution informed the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed on December 12, 2025, effectively terminating the proceedings.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had been arraigned over public comments in which she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her.

The allegations sparked widespread political controversy and drew national attention when they were made public.

At Thursday’s proceedings, the prosecution told the court that it was no longer interested in pursuing the matter, prompting the judge to formally dismiss the charges. With the dismissal, the senator is no longer facing criminal liability in respect of the defamation suit.

Reacting to the development, supporters of the senator described the ruling as a victory for free expression and due process, while also calling on authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations she raised.

Critics, however, maintained that the serious nature of the claims warranted scrutiny through appropriate legal and investigative channels.

Neither the Senate President nor the former Kogi State governor was present in court, and there was no immediate official reaction from their camps at the time of filing this report.

The dismissal brings to an end months of legal wrangling surrounding the case, though the political fallout from the allegations and counterclaims is expected to continue within Nigeria’s tense political landscape.