Defamation Case: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to Appear in Court on Tuesday
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in Kogi State, has been summoned to court on Tuesday.
Her senior counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), verified this on Sunday.
Idahosa, on the other hand, was unsure whether the federal government intended to charge her on Tuesday.
He stated that regardless of the federal government’s plans, Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a law-abiding citizen, would follow the court’s directions.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan, claiming that she made defamatory statements during a live television broadcast and a private phone conversation.
These words apparently targeted Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge, filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and marked CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making a statement during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, in which she claimed that Akpabio and Bello discussed plans to assassinate her.
“During the meeting with Yahaya Bello that night, Akpabio discussed eliminating me.” “He then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” the complaint states.
Additionally, the government accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of uttering disparaging remarks over the phone on March 27, 2025.
In a conversation with Dr. Sandra Duru, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly revealed that Akpabio was involved in organ harvesting involving the late Iniubong Umoren, ostensibly for the sake of his ailing wife.
Akpabio, Bello, and four other individuals have been identified as important witnesses in the trial.
Idahosa reiterated that the legal team is ready to defend Akpoti-Uduaghan in court.
“If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client”
“The topic of protest is unimportant to us; we are lawyers, and our primary goal is to defend allegations that we believe can be contested. “Protests are the domain of civil societies and others in that terrain,” Idahosa explained.
He added, “Our client is a law-abiding citizen.” Why wouldn’t she be present? We have undertaken a summons. Only contemptuous organisations that flout court orders would fail to appear, and she does not fit that description.”
When asked about the prospect of an arraignment, Idahosa responded, “We don’t know. We received a notification of modified charges. We don’t know what they’re attempting to accomplish. They’ve changed the charges before and might do so again—it’s their choice.”