The suspended senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday to defend herself on the defamation charges filed by the Federal Government.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the senator’s planned appearance in an interview on Sunday.
However, he noted uncertainty over whether the Federal Government intends to proceed with formal arraignment during Tuesday’s session.
“We don’t know. We saw a notice of amended charges. We’re not sure what they intend to do,” Idahosa said. “They’ve amended the charges once before and may do so again. It’s within their rights.”
The case, marked CR/297/25 and filed on May 16, 2025, accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory remarks during a live television appearance and a private telephone call. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, is leading the case on behalf of the Federal Government.
According to the charge sheet, the allegations stem from an interview the senator granted on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on April 3. During the broadcast, Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had conspired to eliminate her.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” she was quoted as saying.
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In addition, prosecutors allege that in a private phone conversation with a woman identified as Dr. Sandra Duru, recorded on March 27, Akpoti-Uduaghan linked Akpabio to organ trafficking involving the late Iniubong Umoren, suggesting the motive was to aid his ailing wife.
Akpabio, Bello, and four other individuals have been listed as prosecution witnesses in the high-profile case, which observers say could have far-reaching implications for political speech and accountability in Nigeria.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team insists she will fully comply with judicial procedures.
“Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be in court? It’s a summons we’ve undertaken to honour,” Idahosa said, brushing aside suggestions that Akpoti-Uduaghan might be avoiding trial. “Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear and she is not in that category.”
When asked about the political undercurrents surrounding the case, Idahosa was measured. “We are not concerned with protests or public outcry. We are lawyers. Our role is to respond to the charges and defend our client.”
The court is expected to determine on Tuesday whether to proceed with arraignment or schedule further hearings.
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