By Edith Nwapi
Justice Chizoba Orji of an Abuja High Court on Thursday struck out alleged
defamation case against the Senator Representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-
Udagahan, filed by the Federal Government.
Justice Orji struck out the suit following the application by the Prosecution
counsel, Aderonke Imana, for discontinuation of the suit.
Counsel to Natasha, West Idahosa, however moved for the matter to be struck out
following the prosecution’s application for discontinuance.
He also urged the court to release all documents belonging to the defendant and her
sureties.
The prosecution counsel did not oppose to the application made by the defence
counsel for the matter to be struck out.
In a short ruling, Justice Chizoba Orji struck out the suit, and equally discharged
the sureties and ordered that all their documents be returned to them.
Recall that Natasha, a senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial zone, was
alleged to have defamed the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former
governor of Kogi , Yahaya Bello.
Natasha was, in count one, accused of making harmful imputation which she knew
would harm the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by
claiming he plotted, with former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, to kill her.
In count two, she was accused of making a similar harmful imputation knowing
that it will harm the reputation of ex-governor Yahaya Bello.
In count three, she was accused of making another imputation, which she knew
would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one
Miss Imoren Iniobong.
She however, pleaded not guilty to all of the charges when they were read to her.
She was admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in the like sum
in the charge marked CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025 while the judge added that
the surety must be an owner of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
