JUST IN: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Gran
By peterside Rejoice Eneky
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Thursday arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja over allegations of defamation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) filed a three-count criminal charge accusing the lawmaker of making harmful imputations likely to damage the reputations of the two political figures.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, accompanied to court by her husband and political allies, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her before Justice Chisoba Oji.
Following her plea, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe urged the court to remand the senator in prison custody pending trial. He argued that efforts to serve the charge on her had met resistance and delays.
However, defence counsel, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), applied for bail, citing her constitutional right to presumption of innocence. Otaru told the court that the bail application was ripe for hearing and had been properly served on the prosecution.
He assured the court that his client posed no flight risk and would not interfere with police investigations or witnesses. He further cited provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which encourages bail for non-capital offences.
In a short ruling, Justice Oji held that the offence was bailable and not capital in nature. She granted Akpoti-Uduaghan bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum. The surety, the court directed, must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The matter was adjourned to September 23, 2025, for commencement of trial. The case, filed on May 15, is marked CR/297/25.
In the charge, the suspended senator is accused in count one of alleging that Senate President Akpabio conspired with Yahaya Bello to assassinate her. In the second count, she is said to have made a similar harmful statement about Bello.
The third count accuses her of linking Akpabio to the death of Miss Iniubong Umoren, an allegation the prosecution insists was knowingly false and damaging.
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