The Federal Government has formally withdrawn the criminal defamation charges filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, bringing the high-profile case to an end.
The withdrawal was conveyed through a Notice of Discontinuance dated December 12, 2025, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Acting on the notice during proceedings on Thursday, Justice Chizoba Orji struck out the suit and discharged the Senator.
In her ruling, the trial judge held that the prosecution had elected to discontinue the matter and accordingly ordered that the case be struck out. The court further directed that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s travel documents, as well as the title documents deposited by her sureties as part of her bail conditions, be released.
With the ruling, the legal battle—instituted in July 2025—has been formally concluded. The charges arose from public allegations made by the Senator against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary sessions of the 10th Senate, allegations that had triggered sharp political reactions and legal pushback.
The case had generated intense controversy within the National Assembly and beyond, fuelling debates over political accountability, freedom of expression, and the continued use of criminal defamation laws in Nigeria. Thursday’s decision effectively lays the dispute to rest, closing a chapter that had widened divisions within the Senate and captured national attention.
