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, following the prosecution’s decision to discontinue the case.
Justice Chizoba Orji struck out the matter on Thursday after the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, formally applied to withdraw the charges.
The application was not opposed by the defence.
Counsel to the senator, West Idahosa, thereafter urged the court to strike out the suit and order the release of all documents belonging to Akpoti-Uduaghan and her sureties.
The request was granted without objection from the prosecution.
In a brief ruling, Justice Orji struck out the case, discharged the sureties and directed that all documents earlier deposited with the court be returned to their owners.
The Federal Government had instituted the suit in May 2025, accusing the senator of making defamatory statements during a live television interview.
The charge was filed under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, which deal with imputations said to harm a person’s reputation.
Part of the allegations centred on claims by Akpoti-Uduaghan that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her, statements the government argued were capable of damaging reputations.
With the prosecution’s withdrawal and the court’s ruling, the case has now been formally brought to an end.
