The federal government has withdrawn the criminal charge filed against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central senatorial district.
A notice of discontinuance was filed in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, between the Federal Government and Akpoti-Uduaghan, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The document, dated December 12, 2025, was filed pursuant to Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
“The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation intends to discontinue proceeding in this matter,” the notice stated.
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 Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Court records show that the notice was received and endorsed by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 15, 2025, and subsequently certified as a true copy by the court registry on December 18, 2025.
The development comes days after Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that he had directed his legal team to withdraw all court cases he instituted against individuals over alleged defamation.
In December 2025, Akpabio had filed a ₦200 billion defamation suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, against Akpoti-Uduaghan, following allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him.