A FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Abuja, has struck out the defamation case against the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, filed by the Federal Government.
Justice Chizoba Orji struck out the suit following an application by the prosecution lawyer, Aderonke Imana, to discontinue the case.
Justice Orji stated: “The court hopes that this decision will pave the way for restraint, healing and respect for the rule of law in our democratic process.”
Counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, West Idahosa, subsequently moved for the matter to be struck out following the application, urging the court to release all documents belonging to the defendant and her sureties.
The prosecution Counsel did not oppose the application by the defence Counsel.
Consequently, Justice Orji, in a short ruling, struck out the suit and discharged the sureties.
She also ordered that all their documents be returned to them.
Recall that the Federal Government had, in May last year, instituted a suit against the senator, listed as the sole defendant, over alleged defamatory remarks she made on a live television programme.
She was accused of “making an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, CAP 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, an offence punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
One of the charges was linked to her allegations that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, were plotting to assassinate her.
Recall that on January 1, Akpabio announced at a church service that he had instructed his legal team to discontinue all ongoing defamation suits against Akpoti-Uduaghan and others, saying the cleric’s sermon prompted him to reconsider the legal actions.
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