The Federal Government has withdrawn the criminal charge filed against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central.
A notice of discontinuance was entered in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 between the Federal Government and Akpoti-Uduaghan. The document, dated December 12, 2025, was filed under Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. It stated that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation intended to discontinue proceedings in the matter.
The notice was signed by M. B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, and Aderonke Imana, Assistant Chief State Counsel, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
Court records indicate that the Federal High Court in Abuja received and endorsed the notice on December 15, 2025, while the court registry later certified the document as a true copy on December 18, 2025.
The development follows a statement made on Thursday, January 1, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said he had instructed his lawyers to withdraw all court cases he had instituted against individuals over alleged defamation.
In December 2025, Akpabio had filed a ₦200 billion defamation suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja against Akpoti-Uduaghan, stemming from allegations of sexual harassment made against him.
