Akpabio, Yahaya Bello to testify as FG sues Natasha for defamation 

The Federal Government has instituted a suit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, over alleged defamatory remarks made on live television.

The suit marked CR/297/25 and filed before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, has Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant.

The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

The list of witnesses shows that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, will testify during the trial.

Count one of the charge accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory allegations during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on April 3, 2025.

Other witnesses listed to testify in the suit include Asuquo Ekpenyong, a senator; Sandra Duru; Maya Iliya, investigating police officers; and Abdulhafiz Garba, investigating police officers.

Akpabio and Bello are said to be the nominal complainants.

Natasha was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following her seating arrangement altercation with Akpabio.

The lawmaker said she believed her suspension was illegal, unjust and a way of silencing her.

She also rejected the Senate’s position that she was not suspended over her sexual harassment claim.

Over the weeks that followed, the Kogi senator made several allegations and submitted petitions against the senate president.

In April, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the assassination allegation levelled against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan

He demanded an immediate investigation and prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan under relevant laws for “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”.

Bello had also petitioned the IGP over claims made by the Kogi senator, alleging that the former governor initiated and funded her recall process.

She had accused Bello of acting on Akpabio’s instruction to orchestrate her assassination outside Abuja, in a manner that would appear as a mob or local attack.

Punch