Sh*wdown Looms As Natasha’s Lawyers Gear Up With Hard Evidence Against FG Summons

The legal team representing suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has acknowledged receiving a formal court summons in the case filed against her by the Federal Government at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday, May 16, 2025, and registered as case number CR/297/25, accuses the senator of making allegedly defamatory statements during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.

Citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation (1990), the Federal Government charged Akpoti-Uduaghan with knowingly making imputations intended to damage the reputation of another individual.

Prominent figures listed as prosecution witnesses include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Others include Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.

In a statement released Friday night, lead counsel Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) confirmed that the legal team formally received the summons at approximately 2:30 p.m. on May 23, 2025, at the FCT High Court premises. The summons, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, includes three counts accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of making statements intended to harm the reputation of Senate President Akpabio.

The legal team, authorized to receive the summons on her behalf, vowed to mount a robust defence using all available factual and legal arguments.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, over what was termed “gross misconduct” after a confrontation regarding her seat placement during a session with Senate President Akpabio. She has rejected the suspension as unlawful and a targeted move to silence her, denying the Senate’s claim that the punishment was unrelated to her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.

Since then, she has filed multiple petitions and made further allegations against the Senate leadership.

In response, Senate President Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of defamation, incitement, and false accusations, and urged law enforcement to investigate and prosecute her under relevant laws. Former Governor Yahaya Bello also submitted a petition to the police, alleging she falsely implicated him in a plot to assassinate her, purportedly under Akpabio’s instruction.