FG Withdraws Criminal Charge Against Senator Natasha

The Federal Government has withdrawn the criminal charge instituted against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District.

A notice of discontinuance filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja brought an end to the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, between the federal government and Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The document, dated December 12, 2025, was filed pursuant to Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

“The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation intends to discontinue proceedings in this matter,” the notice stated.

The notice was signed by M. B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and Aderonke Imana, Assistant Chief State Counsel, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Court records show that the Federal High Court, Abuja, received and endorsed the notice on December 15, 2025, while the document was subsequently certified as a true copy by the court registry on December 18, 2025.

The withdrawn charge stemmed from petitions reportedly submitted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, following comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a televised interview in which she alleged threats to her life.

She was then charged with criminal defamation and cyber-related offences.

The development comes as Akpabio himself announced that he has directed his lawyers to withdraw all defamation suits he personally instituted against individuals.

Speaking during a recent church programme, the Senate President said a sermon by a Catholic priest prompted him to reflect and abandon litigation.

“I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name,” Akpabio said.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them,” he added.

One of the most prominent cases affected by Akpabio’s decision is a N200bn defamation suit he filed in December 2025 at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, against Akpoti-Uduaghan over sexual harassment allegations, which he denied.