The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has terminated the criminal defamation case instituted against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
A notice filed by the Federal Government to discontinue the prosecution was submitted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, effectively bringing the trial to an end.
Court documents obtained on Sunday showed that the notice was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, on behalf of the Attorney General.
The document, titled “Notice of Discontinuance of Proceedings in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR.195/2025,” was filed pursuant to Sections 108 (1), (2) and (5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
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It stated that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had decided to discontinue further proceedings in the matter.
Following the development, Justice Umar Garba of the Federal High Court, before whom the case is pending, is expected to formally strike out or dismiss the charge on the next adjourned date after the court resumes from its Christmas vacation.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 3, 2025, over alleged defamatory statements said to have implicated the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in an alleged plot to assassinate her.
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The senator, who was under suspension at the time, was accused of breaching Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, following comments she made during a television interview on the alleged assassination plot.
At her arraignment, Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on self-recognition by the court.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
