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 Mrs 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.

She also ordered that their documents be returned to them.

Mrs 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 State, Yahaya Bello.

Mrs 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 State 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- Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

In count three, she was accused of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Mr Akpabio by associating him with the death of one 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.

The judge added that the surety must be an owner of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

(NAN)