Kogi Central Senator
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High
Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, facing a three-count charge of alleged
defamation.
According to the charges, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly made
defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi
State Governor Yahaya Bello during a live television appearance on Channels
Television's Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The senator is accused of claiming that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate her, with Akpabio allegedly withdrawing her security detail to make her vulnerable to attacks.
https://bsmreport.blogspot.com/2020/11/nigerian-youth-are-angry-and-only-way.html
Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her defense team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Roland Otaru, argued for bail, citing the senator's innocence until proven guilty.
The court granted Akpoti-Uduaghan bail in the sum of ₦50 million
with one surety who must own a landed property in Abuja. The case has been
adjourned to September 23, 2025, for trial.
The arraignment was marked by heightened security, with over 200
police operatives deployed around the court premises. Akpoti-Uduaghan's
supporters, including human rights activists and political loyalists, were
present in court. A coalition of over 350 women-led organizations has condemned
the legal action, describing it as a "judicial ambush" aimed at
silencing outspoken women in Nigeria.
The senator's family home in Ihima, Kogi State, was attacked on
Tuesday night, marking the second such incident in two months. One suspect has
been arrested, and Akpoti-Uduaghan has called for calm while urging security
agencies to act decisively.
The case has drawn significant public attention, with implications
for defamation law, political accountability, and freedom of speech in Nigeria.
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