Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, appeared at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday for her arraignment on charges of alleged defamation.
The Senator arrived at the courtroom around 10:30 a.m., ahead of the session scheduled for 11:00 a.m., as she awaited the arrival of the presiding judge.
The charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Government, accusing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory statements during a live broadcast.
In the case, marked CR/297/25, the Federal Government alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan defamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The prosecution claims that the Senator alleged during the broadcast that Akpabio and Bello conspired to have her assassinated outside Abuja under the guise of a mob attack.
Quoting part of her alleged statement, the charge reads:
“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 further claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan stated:
“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, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
The Federal Government argues that she made these accusations either knowing or having reason to believe that they would damage the reputation of both Akpabio and Bello.
Additionally, the Senator is accused of making another damaging claim about Senate President Akpabio during a phone conversation with one Sandra C. Duru on March 27, 2025. In the call, she allegedly said:
“That girl that was killed, what’s 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 prosecution contends that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made these statements with knowledge that they could severely harm Akpabio’s reputation.
The charge lists Akpabio and Bello as nominal complainants, and they, along with four other individuals, are expected to serve as witnesses in the trial.
