Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Thursday arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations of defamation against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adosa Bello.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice instituted a three-count criminal charge against her, alleging that she made harmful imputations during a television interview.
Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared in court accompanied by her husband and a number of sympathizers.
Upon arraignment, she pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Following her plea, prosecuting counsel for the Federal Government, David Kaswe, urged the presiding judge, Justice Chizoba Orji, to remand the defendant in prison custody pending the determination of the charges.
In response, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Professor Roland Otaru SAN, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution. He sought the court’s leave to move the application.
Arguing the motion, Otaru appealed to the court to grant bail, stating that his client posed no flight risk and had no intention of interfering with police investigations or witnesses. He further submitted that the Constitution presumes her innocent until proven otherwise, and that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 encourages the granting of bail in offences of this nature.
Opposing the application, the Federal Government’s counsel argued that it was difficult to serve the defendant with the charges, implying a risk of evasion.
In her ruling, Justice Orji held that the charges did not constitute capital offences and emphasized that the law still presumes Akpoti-Uduaghan innocent. She granted bail in the sum of fifty million naira with one surety in like sum.
The judge stipulated that the surety must own landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Trial has been scheduled to commence on September 23, 2025, in the case marked CR/297/25, filed on May 15, 2025.
In count one of the charge, the suspended senator was accused of making a harmful imputation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio by alleging that he conspired with former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to kill her.
Count two accused her of making a similar statement with intent to harm the reputation of Yahaya Bello.
Count three alleged that she linked Akpabio to the death of Miss Imoren Iniobong, an assertion which the prosecution described as defamatory and harmful to his reputation.
