The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, granted bail to suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on ₦50 million.
Presiding Judge Justice Chizoba Orji approved the bail alongside a condition that requires one surety of reasonable integrity who must reside in Abuja and own landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Why Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Was Arraigned
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a three-count criminal charge filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). She is accused of making defamatory statements during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
In the charge (marked CR/297/25), the AGF claims the Senator defamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Allegations Made During the Live Interview
The Federal Government alleges that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan made statements suggesting a plot to assassinate her, reportedly saying:
- “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks? He then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
Another excerpt allegedly directed at former Governor Bello reads:
- “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, to eliminate me…”
Additionally, during a phone conversation with Sandra C. Duru on March 27, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of making a shocking claim regarding Iniubong Umoren’s death, allegedly saying:
“Her organs were actually used for the wife [of Akpabio] because the wife was really ill…”
Senator Natasha Pleads Not Guilty
- The embattled Senator pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to her in court. Her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Roland Otaru, submitted a bail application dated May 27, 2025.
- Despite opposition from Federal Government prosecutor David Kaswe, who urged the court to deny bail and remand her in prison, the judge ruled in her favor.
Otaru reminded the court that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Other Details of the Trial
The arraignment was initially scheduled for June 3, 2025, but was delayed due to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) strike.
A similar defamation suit is pending before Justice Muhammad Umar at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Yahaya Bello, and four others have been listed as witnesses in the ongoing trial.
Stay with NaijaBlogDaily for real-time updates on the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan defamation trial, Nigerian politics, and other top headlines.
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