By Austin Ogwuda
The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the Senate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says she is fully ready for the legal battle regarding suit No. CR/297/25, which was filed by the Federal Government at the Federal Capital Territory High Court against Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant.
The federal government in the suit is accusing her of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, under Section 391 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 392.
Court documents reveal that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello will testify as witnesses. They are also listed as nominal complainants.
The allegations stem from comments made by the Senator during a live appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on April 3, 2025. The full list of witnesses includes Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and two police investigators: Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
The lawsuit follows a series of confrontations between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate leadership since she was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for what was described as gross misconduct, following a seating dispute involving Senate President Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan called the suspension unlawful and politically motivated, denying claims that it was unrelated to her earlier allegations of sexual harassment within the Senate.
In the weeks after her suspension, she submitted multiple petitions against Akpabio, including an accusation that he conspired to have her assassinated. She also accused Bello of initiating and funding a campaign to recall her from the Senate and claimed he acted on Akpabio’s instructions to arrange her assassination in a way that would appear to be a mob attack outside Abuja.
In response, both Akpabio and Bello petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, calling for a full investigation and the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and conduct likely to disrupt public peace.
Responding to the FG’s suit, Natasha through her legal team led by Ehiogie WEST-IDAHOSA PhD in a terse Public Statement put out today (Friday) stated that “we have received the said information on behalf of our client upon a letter of authority duty issued by her and filed in the Registry of the said Court.
“The legal team will adequately prepare all factual and statutory defences available to our client and place same before the Court during the trial “, he confidently stated.
