A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday granted ₦50 million bail to the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after her arraignment on a three-count charge bordering on alleged defamation and false imputation.
Justice Chizoba Orji, in her ruling, dismissed the Federal Government’s request to remand Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in prison custody. The judge ruled that there was enough evidence to support the defendant’s willingness to appear for her trial and that bail was a constitutional right under section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court ordered the senator to provide one surety—an individual of proven integrity who owns a landed property within Abuja—alongside the ₦50 million bail condition. The case was adjourned to September 23, 2025, for trial.
The Federal Government, in case number CR/297/25, is prosecuting the senator for remarks she allegedly made on a live Channels Television broadcast on April 3. During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State
Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her.According to the prosecution, her statements constituted an offence under Section 391 of the Penal Code, which pertains to making imputations that harm the reputation of others. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
Prominent individuals listed as witnesses in the case include Senate President Akpabio, ex-Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Channels TV guest Sandra Duru, along with investigating police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
The charge came after Akpoti-Uduaghan petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, accusing the police of bias in investigating her claims against the Senate President.
Her legal battles also include a pending suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate. That ruling is expected on June 27. Her suspension followed a heated February 20 plenary session where she clashed with the Senate President over her seating position and was subsequently referred to the Ethics Committee.
In a follow-up interview on February 28, she alleged that her ordeal began after she rejected inappropriate advances from Akpabio—a claim now central to her defamation trial.
