The Federal Government has filed a criminal defamation suit against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over statements she made during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025. This comes just weeks after her controversial suspension from the Senate, with many now questioning if the legal action is another step in a broader attempt to silence her.
Filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and marked CR/297/25, the suit names Natasha as the sole defendant. According to the charge sheet, the government alleges that her televised statements were defamatory and damaging to the reputations of specific individuals. The charge is based on Section 391 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 392.
Natasha’s TV Comments Trigger Court Case
The list of witnesses set to testify includes big political names such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who are reportedly the complainants in the case. Also listed as witnesses are Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and two investigating police officers, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
It is worth noting that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, following an altercation involving seating arrangements—an incident she insists was used as a cover-up to penalize her for speaking out. Since then, she has maintained that her suspension was politically motivated and illegal. “They want to shut me up, but I won’t be silenced,” she said.
Accusations Fly as Political Power Struggle Deepens
The political tension between Natasha, Akpabio, and Bello has been brewing. In April, Akpabio formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, accusing her of falsely alleging that he planned to assassinate her. He called for her to be investigated for incitement and criminal defamation. Bello followed up with a petition of his own, accusing Natasha of falsely linking him to a plan to eliminate her through a staged mob attack outside Abuja. According to Natasha, Bello was acting on Akpabio’s instructions to make it appear like a random killing.
Clearly, the stakes are high. While some see this as justice taking its course, others believe it’s a well-orchestrated campaign to silence a woman who refuses to back down. And the timing raises questions: Why now? Why this charge? And why involve high-ranking political figures as witnesses?
A Case That Raises More Questions Than Answers
This entire saga has thrown up more questions than answers. Is the Federal Government genuinely pursuing justice, or is this lawsuit part of a coordinated political attack? With the inclusion of Akpabio and Bello as complainants and witnesses, it’s hard to separate the legal from the political.
In the eyes of many, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is being dragged through the mud not just for what she said, but for who she is and what she represents. As this case unfolds, Nigerians will be watching attentively, not just for the outcome, but for what it reveals about power, fear, and the growing intolerance for bold female voices in Nigeria’s political space.
