Suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday in response to a summons. Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the development on Sunday, although he noted it remains unclear whether the Federal Government intends to proceed with arraignment on that day.
Regardless of the government’s plans, Idahosa emphasized that Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a law-abiding citizen, would comply fully with the court’s directives.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal defamation charges against the senator. The case stems from statements allegedly made during a live television appearance and a private phone call, which reportedly defamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to court documents filed on May 16, 2025 (Case No. CR/297/25) at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of claiming during a Channels TV interview on Politics Today (April 3, 2025) that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate 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 allegedly said.
She is also accused of making further defamatory remarks in a March 27 phone conversation with Dr Sandra Duru, in which she allegedly implicated Akpabio in organ harvesting linked to the death of Iniubong Umoren.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as principal witnesses in the case.
In a phone interview with The PUNCH, Idahosa expressed the legal team’s preparedness to defend their client.
“If the matter is called tomorrow, we’ll be ready. Protests are for civil society; our role is to contest what we see as contestable charges,” he stated.
Reaffirming Akpoti-Uduaghan’s commitment to due process, he added, “She is a law-abiding citizen and will honour the court’s summons. Only institutions that disregard the rule of law fail to comply, and she’s not among them.”
On the likelihood of arraignment, Idahosa said, “We’re unsure. We’ve seen a notice of amended charges. The prosecution can change them at any time—it’s their prerogative.”
Advertisement
