A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has struck out the criminal charges filed by the federal government against Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The presiding judge, Chizoba Orji, struck out the suit on Thursday following a notice of discontinuance filed by the federal government.
At the court session, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, West Idahosa, moved that the case be struck out in line with the prosecution’s application for discontinuance.
He also asked the court to order the release of all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties.
The prosecution did not oppose the application.
Justice Orji consequently struck out the case, discharged the sureties and ordered that all documents submitted for bail be returned.
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned in June 2025 on a three-count charge of criminal defamation in suit number CR/297/25, filed on May 16, 2025.
The federal government was the complainant, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, were listed as nominal complainants.
According to the charge, the senator was accused of making imputations knowing or having reason to believe that such statements would harm the reputation of another person, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code.
The case arose from public comments attributed to Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she accused Senator Akpabio and Governor Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
Reacting after the court session, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the decision affirmed her confidence in the rule of law.
She said she would continue to serve her constituents and defend democratic rights.
The struck-out case is one of two cases filed against the senator by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The second case, bordering on cyberbullying, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
A notice of discontinuance has also been filed in that matter and the court is expected to take action on it at a later date.
