THE Federal Government has formally withdrawn the criminal charge instituted against the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, bringing an abrupt end to a high-profile legal action that had attracted national attention.
News Point Nigeria reports that the decision was conveyed through a Notice of Discontinuance filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, between the Federal Government and the lawmaker.
Court documents sighted on Monday showed that the notice was dated December 12, 2025, and was filed pursuant to Sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which empowers the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue criminal proceedings at any stage before judgment.
“The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation intends to discontinue proceedings in this matter,” the notice explicitly stated.
The document was jointly signed by M.B. Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation, and Aderonke Imana, Assistant Chief State Counsel, acting on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Court Endorses Withdrawal
Court records further indicated that the notice was received and endorsed by the Federal High Court on December 15, 2025, before being officially certified as a true copy by the court registry on December 18, 2025, effectively terminating the prosecution.
Although the Federal Government did not publicly state its reasons for discontinuing the charge, the withdrawal marks a significant legal reprieve for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had been embroiled in multiple court battles in recent months.
Akpabio’s Earlier Withdrawal of Legal Actions
The development follows a related announcement made earlier by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who disclosed last Thursday that he had instructed his legal team to withdraw all court cases he had filed against individuals over alleged defamation.
Akpabio’s statement came amid growing political pressure and public debate surrounding legal disputes involving senior lawmakers.
Recall that in December 2025, the Senate President had instituted a ₦200 billion defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, following allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by the Kogi lawmaker.
While the defamation suit was a civil matter distinct from the criminal charge withdrawn by the Federal Government, observers say the twin developments suggest a broader de-escalation of legal hostilities surrounding the dispute.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Ministry of Justice nor Akpoti-Uduaghan has issued an official public statement reacting to the withdrawal.
The withdrawal effectively clears the criminal case from the court’s docket, allowing the senator to refocus on her legislative duties without the burden of ongoing criminal prosecution.