Nigeria Federal Government Withdraws Defamation Case Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Digest:

The Federal Government has discontinued its criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Key Points:

• The FCT High Court in Maitama struck out the suit following a prosecution notice of discontinuance.
• Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team successfully moved for the case’s dismissal and the return of all documents.
• The prosecution did not oppose the application, leading to a swift judicial closure.
• The judge discharged the sureties and ordered the release of all seized paperwork.
• The senator had been arraigned in June 2025 on a three-count charge of criminal defamation.
• The original complainants were Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
• The case, filed in May 2025, alleged harm to reputation under the Penal Code.

This withdrawal closes a contentious chapter, but leaves unanswered questions about the use of legal machinery in political contests

Sources: The Cable, Channels