Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended representative for Kogi Central Senatorial District, has arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, for her arraignment on charges of alleged defamation.
The Senator entered the courtroom around 10:30 AM, ahead of the 11:00 am session, where she will face the judge.
The charge against Akpoti-Uduaghan was filed by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, on behalf of the Federal Government.
In the criminal charge, marked CR/297/25, the Federal Government accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the sole defendant, of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a live television broadcast.
Both Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello are listed as nominal complainants in the charge.
It is alleged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed Bello conspired with Akpabio to arrange her assassination outside Abuja, intending to disguise it as a mob or local attack.
According to the Federal Government, these allegations were made during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on April 3, 2025.
The FG argues that Akpoti-Uduaghan knowingly or recklessly made these imputations, fully aware that they could harm the reputation of the individuals involved.
She is alleged to have said: “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.
“What is important to me is to stay alive because dead men tell no tales. Who is going to get justice for me?”
The charge also cites her statements during the programme, “That you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on or about the 3rd day of April 2025, during the same Politics Today programme on Channels Television in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, made the following imputation concerning Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.
‘It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, to eliminate me. When he met with him, he then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.’
“You knew or had reason to believe that such imputations would harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.”
The senator is also accused of making defamatory statements about Senate President Akpabio during a telephone conversation with Sandra C. Duru in Abuja on March 27, 2025.
The alleged statement is as follows: “That girl that was killed, what is her name, umm Imoren Iniubong, her organs were actually used for the wife, because the wife was really ill… when they killed the girl, and her organs were used for the wife.”
The Federal Government contends that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan knew or ought to have known that this claim would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Additionally, Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as witnesses for the trial.
Persecondnews had reported that in recent weeks, Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio have been embroiled in a heated political controversy.
The Kogi-born politician submitted a petition to the Senate, accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment.
However, the Ethics Committee of the Senate rejected her petition on March 6 and imposed a six-month suspension without pay on her.
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