Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has said that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his wife have not withdrawn the court cases they filed against her, contrary to reports suggesting the lawsuits had been discontinued. She said the matters remain pending in court.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that the recent withdrawal of criminal charges by the Federal Government against her does not affect the civil suits initiated by Akpabio and his wife.
The Federal Government had filed criminal defamation and cybercrime charges against her, which were formally struck out by the High Court in Abuja following a notice of discontinuance. However, the civil defamation cases remain unresolved.
The dispute stems from remarks Akpoti-Uduaghan made during a media interview in 2025, which Akpabio considered defamatory.
In December 2025, Akpabio filed a civil defamation suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, seeking damages, a retraction, and an apology.
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At a church service on January 1, 2026, Akpabio reportedly said he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw all pending defamation cases, but Akpoti-Uduaghan said no formal withdrawal has occurred in her cases.
She expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for ordering the discontinuance of the criminal charges against her, describing the court’s action as a vindication of her position.
Despite the dismissal of the government’s cases, Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed that the civil lawsuits filed by the Senate President and his wife remain active, keeping the legal dispute ongoing.