Natasha vows ‘factual evidence’ against FG criminal suit

Natasha vows ‘factual evidence’ against FG criminal suit

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has promised to counter the Federal Government’s criminal suit against her with what she described as “factual and statutory defences.”

This comes after her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, confirmed on Friday that it had formally received the summons filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

The suit, marked CR/297/25, was instituted by the Federal Government on May 16, 2025, over comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on April 3. The charges are predicated on Section 391 of the Penal Code, which deals with defamation and imputations intended to harm reputation.

The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.” Key witnesses listed by the prosecution include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, alongside Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, Maya Iliya, and Abdulhafiz Garba—both identified as investigating police officers.

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In a statement issued Friday night, Dr. West-Idahosa disclosed that the legal team had taken delivery of the court filings on behalf of the senator.

“At about 2:30pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, containing three counts alleging that our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, made imputations she had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate,” the statement said.

“We received the said information on her behalf through a letter of authority duly issued and filed in the court’s registry.

“The legal team will fully prepare and present all factual and statutory defences available to our client during the trial.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan has been embroiled in a series of controversies since her suspension from the Senate on March 6, following a confrontation with Senate President Akpabio over seating arrangements. She described her suspension as “illegal,” “unjust,” and “a deliberate attempt to silence” her.

She also rejected the Senate’s claim that her suspension was unrelated to the sexual harassment allegations she had earlier made. In subsequent weeks, the senator filed several petitions and intensified allegations against Akpabio, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign to remove her from office.

Among her most serious claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that former Governor Yahaya Bello was acting on Akpabio’s instructions to plan her assassination outside Abuja in a manner designed to resemble a mob or local attack.