US EditionBREAKING: Nigerian govt sues Senator Natasha over defamation
- On May 16, 2025, the Nigerian government sued Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation in Abuja's High Court.
- The lawsuit arises from Akpoti-Uduaghan's April 3, 2025, interview in which she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to have her killed.
- The suit cites Section 391 of the Penal Code and lists Akpabio, Bello, and four others as witnesses, including police officers and political figures.
- The government claims Akpoti-Uduaghan made the defamatory statements knowing they would harm reputations, while she denies the allegations and has not publicly responded to the charges.
- This case highlights tensions between freedom of expression and defamation law in Nigeria and could affect political dynamics given Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension and ongoing accusations.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country’s top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to “eliminate” her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her – an allegation he has also denied…
FG Files Criminal Charges Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
By Lizzy Chirkpi The Nigerian government has officially filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following allegations she made during a live television interview, where she claimed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to assassinate her. The case has been filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant,…
Akpabio, Bello to Testify as FG Sues Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Over Live TV Remarks
ABUJA, Nigeria — The federal government has filed a criminal suit against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, over allegedly defamatory remarks made during a live television broadcast. The suit, marked CR/297/25, was filed on Friday, May 16, 2025, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The senator is the sole defendant in the case. According to the charges, the government accuses Akpoti-Udua…
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