Senator representing Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Kogi Central, has stated that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has not withdrawn any of the defamation suits he filed against her, contrary to reports circulating in the media.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that the civil suits instituted by Akpabio and his wife remain pending before the courts and are separate from the criminal charges earlier filed by the Federal Government, which were struck out the same day.
“I would like to mention for clarity that these cases do not form part of the cases the Senate President mentioned in church. As of today, he has not instructed his lawyers to discontinue the several cases that he and his wife initiated,” she said.
Akpabio had filed multiple defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan following her allegation that he made sexual advances toward her. In one of the suits, the Senate President is seeking a retraction, a public apology, and ₦200 billion in damages.
During a church service on January 1, Akpabio announced that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the cases. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan said no such steps have been taken.
Her remarks came shortly after two separate criminal cases filed against her by the Federal Government of Nigeria were struck out by courts in Abuja.
According to the senator, the withdrawal of the charges was ordered by President Bola Tinubu.
“The withdrawal of these two Federal Government cases against me only proves what we had always known — that these cases were instigated to witch-hunt me. I appreciate President Tinubu for ordering the discontinuance of these cases,” she said.
A three-count defamation charge before the Federal Capital Territory High Court was struck out by Justice Chizoba Orji after the prosecution filed a notice of discontinuance. Similarly, a six-count cybercrime charge pending before the Federal High Court was struck out by Justice Mohammed Umar.
When the cases were called, counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Aderonke Imana, informed the courts of the notices of discontinuance. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, did not oppose the withdrawal but requested the release of all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties, which the courts granted.
The discontinued charges were based on allegations that Akpoti-Uduaghan made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, where she claimed that Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello were plotting to assassinate her.
Those allegations formed the basis of both the defamation and cybercrime charges.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had pleaded not guilty to all counts before the cases were formally withdrawn.
