Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday said Senate President Godswill Akpabio has not withdrawn any of the legal actions he filed against her, contrary to media reports.
Speaking to journalists, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said the defamation suits instituted by Senator Akpabio remain pending before the courts.
She said the cases were separate from the charges filed by the Federal Government, which were struck out on Thursday.
“I will like to mention for clarity that these cases do not form part of the cases the Senate President mentioned in church. As at today, he has not instructed his lawyers to discontinue several cases that he and his wife initiated,” she said.
Akpabio had filed defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan following her claim that the Senate President made sexual advances towards her.
In one of the suits, Akpabio sought a retraction, an apology and N200 billion in damages.
The Senate President had announced during a church service on January 1 that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the cases.
Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke shortly after two separate criminal charges filed against her by the Federal Government were struck out by courts in Abuja.
She said President Bola Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of the charges.
“The withdrawal of these two federal government cases against me only proved what we had always known, which is 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 filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court was struck out by Justice Chizoba Orji following a notice of discontinuance by the prosecution.
A six-count cybercrime charge pending before the Federal High Court was also 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 counsel, 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.
In the charges that were struck out, the Federal Government accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making imputations during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, alleging that Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello were plotting to assassinate her.
The allegations formed the basis of the defamation and cybercrime charges.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to the charges before they were discontinued.
