Two courts in Abuja on Thursday struck out all criminal charges filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF) against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, bringing an end to months of legal controversy.
The first ruling was delivered by Justice Chizoba Orji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who struck out the criminal defamation charge against the senator following a notice of discontinuance filed by the prosecution.
At the mention of the case, the prosecution counsel, Aderonke Imana, informed the court that the Federal Government had withdrawn the charge and urged the court to strike it out. Defence counsel, Ehioje West-Idahosa, did not oppose the application but requested that the court also order the release of all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties.
In a brief ruling, Justice Orji struck out the charge, discharged Akpoti-Uduaghan and her sureties, and ordered that all seized documents be returned to them.
In a related development, a Federal High Court in Abuja also struck out the cybercrime charge earlier filed against the senator. The proceedings, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, were reportedly conducted in chambers, where the judge acted on a similar notice of discontinuance submitted by the prosecution.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been charged with criminal defamation at the FCT High Court and alleged cybercrime at the Federal High Court following her public claim that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello planned to kill her. Both cases attracted widespread national attention and sparked debates on free speech, political accountability and the limits of prosecutorial power.
Although the OAGF did not officially state the reasons for discontinuing the cases, the development is believed to be linked to Akpabio’s recent decision to withdraw all defamation suits filed in his name. The Senate President had announced that his decision was driven by moral conviction, faith and the need to provide focused leadership in the Senate.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said leading a Senate of 109 members with diverse ambitions requires restraint and example-setting, rather than prolonged legal battles that could distract from governance. He described the withdrawal of lawsuits as a leadership choice aimed at fostering stability and consensus.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court of the FCT, Abuja, also formally terminated the criminal proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan after the AGF filed a Notice of Discontinuance dated December 12, 2025, in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Delivering his ruling, Justice C. N. Oji acknowledged the withdrawal and struck out the charges, expressing hope that the decision would encourage restraint and respect for the rule of law.
“The court hopes that this decision will pave the way for healing and greater respect for the rule of law in our democratic process,” the judge said.
Reacting to the development, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the outcome as a vindication of her position.
“I have been vindicated. Today’s outcome affirms my belief in the rule of law,” she said, thanking her legal team and supporters for their steadfast backing.
The striking out of the charges concludes a prolonged legal battle that had drawn criticism from civil society groups, many of which described the prosecution as an attempt to stifle free speech and political dissent.
