Defamation suit: Natasha vows to respond with ‘factual’ evidence 

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Centre in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has expressed her readiness 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.

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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.

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.

The legal firm stated: “We received the court notice this (Friday) afternoon on behalf of our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The charges leveled against her are rooted in alleged defamatory statements against the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“We shall take all necessary legal steps to defend our client. We intend to adequately prepare with all relevant facts and present the same before the court during the trial.”