Abuja, Nigeria
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court has rejected the application of the federal government to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central.
The senator was granted bail at a sum of N50 million by the court.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by the presiding judge, Chizoba Orji.
Orji rejected the application by the federal government to remand the Akpoti-Uduaghan in prison custody pending trial.
The judge ruled that there was no valid reason to deny bail to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the court had “sufficient evidence” of her willingness to stand trial.
As part of her bail conditions, the court ordered her to provide one surety—someone of integrity who owns landed property within Abuja.
The trial was adjourned to September 23 for commencement.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared in court on Thursday alongside her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan. Former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, and several supporters were also in attendance.
She is facing a three-count charge of criminal defamation, filed by the federal government on May 16, 2025, under suit number CR/297/25. The case names Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello as nominal complainants.
According to the charge, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” an offence under section 391 of the Penal Code, cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under section 392.
The lawmaker pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against her.
One of the counts accuses the Kogi senator of alleging in a television interview that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello conspired to assassinate her.
The federal government also alleged that the Senator made defamatory remarks about Akpabio during a private phone call with one Sandra C. Duru in Abuja around March 27, 2025.
The charges came from ongoing tensions between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the president of the Senate, which led to her suspension from the chamber on March 6 over what was described as “gross misconduct.”
The suspension followed a dispute over seating arrangements, which Akpoti-Uduaghan later claimed involved sexual harassment by Akpabio. She has maintained that her suspension was unlawful and intended to silence her, rejecting the Senate’s claim that it was unrelated to her harassment allegations.
Following her suspension, she filed several petitions and made public allegations against Akpabio, including the alleged assassination plot and also petitioned the police.
In response, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in April, calling for an investigation and prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged criminal defamation, incitement, false accusations, and actions likely to disturb public peace.
Bello also lodged a petition with the IGP over similar allegations, particularly accusing the senator of falsely claiming he was orchestrating her recall and removal from the Senate.
