ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted bail to suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central in the sum of ₦50 million.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Chizoba Orji turned down the Federal Government’s request for the lawmaker to be kept in prison custody while her case is ongoing. The judge stated there was no justification to deny the defendant bail, citing that there is credible evidence showing her readiness to stand trial.
In addition to the ₦50 million bail, the court instructed that Akpoti-Uduaghan must provide one surety, who must be a person of proven integrity and possess a landed property within Abuja.
The court based its decision on the provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), along with Sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The matter was then adjourned to September 23 for the commencement of trial.
The Federal Government is charging the senator with a three-count allegation, including making false claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her.
Filed under charge number CR/297/25, the government alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan made the remarks during a live appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” programme.
She is accused of making “imputation, knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.” These actions, according to the prosecution, violate Section 391 of the Penal Code (Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990), and are punishable under Section 392.
The government said the alleged offence occurred on April 3 during the live television broadcast.
Listed as key witnesses in the case are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ex-Governor Yahaya Bello, police officers Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Sandra Duru.
The filing followed a letter the defendant wrote to Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, accusing the police of bias in handling her petitions against the Senate President.
Separately, the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27 to decide on the legality of the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate.
Her court action stems from her referral to the Senate Ethics Committee after a confrontation with the Senate President during plenary on February 20, when she contested her sudden change of seat and persistently demanded to speak despite being overruled.
In a subsequent February 28 television interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed her ordeal began after she rejected “unwanted advances” from the Senate President.
Through an ex-parte motion, she has requested the court to rule that any action taken by the Senate Ethics Committee while her suit is active — including her suspension — is “null, void, and of no effect.”
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