By Pathfinder Reporter
Thursday June 19, 2025
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The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has granted ₦50 million bail to suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her arraignment on a three-count criminal charge bordering on defamation and false accusation.
Justice Chizoba Orji, who delivered the ruling on Thursday, declined the Federal Government’s request to remand the senator in prison custody. The court held that there was sufficient evidence to show the defendant was prepared to face trial and had not breached any court orders.
As part of the bail conditions, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must produce one surety who must be a reputable individual with verifiable landed property within Abuja.
The senator was arraigned over allegations that she falsely accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her, during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The charges, marked CR/297/25, state that the alleged offense contravenes Section 391 of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 392. FG alleged that she made imputations intended to harm the reputations of the complainants.
Among the listed witnesses for the prosecution are Senate President Akpabio, ex-Governor Bello, Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, and other individuals including police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba.
The case was adjourned to September 23 for trial.
The bail ruling comes amid a broader legal faceoff between the embattled lawmaker and the Senate. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months after a heated confrontation during plenary on February 20. She has since challenged the legality of her suspension before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with judgment expected on June 27.
In a February 28 interview, the senator claimed her ordeal in the Senate began after rejecting alleged unwanted advances from the Senate President — a claim which further escalated the tension.
Her ongoing legal battle includes an application to declare any action taken by the Senate’s Ethics Committee during the pendency of her suit “null, void, and of no effect.”
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