The drama between the Nigerian senate and Senator Natasha Akpoti is far from over, as the initial clash has now culminated into the latter’s arraignment over alleged defamation.
The suspended senator, flanked by her husband, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama on Thursday morning for the arraignment.
Earlier in the year, Senator Natasha and Akpabio had repeatedly made headlines over the duo’s dramatic exchange in the National Assembly. The lawmaker’s sexual allegations against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had however taken a more controversial turn. This was when she alleged, during a rally held in Ihima, Kogi Central, that the Senate President and former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, we’re plotting to assassinate her.
Akpoti had stated that, “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to kill me. Akpabio told him to make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja. It should be done here. So it will seem as if the people killed me here. I didn’t make that public, but we did notify the police about it”.
Now, the federal government has taken legal actions against the suspended senator, suing her over claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello were behind an alleged plot to assassinate her. The arraignment, which began on Thursday 19 involves a three-count charge. The charges are based on provisions of the Penal Code Act, specifically Sections 391 and 392, which deal with making false statements with intent to harm another person’s reputation.
These charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Government. According to the charges, Senator Natasha’s public allegations, particularly those made during her campaign in Kogi State and in a television interview with Channels TV were not only defamatory but also capable of inciting public unrest.
The charges also referenced a leaked audio recording which had surfaced on the Internet through a UK-based Nigerian activist, Dr. Sandra C Duru. It was reported that Dr. Duru, who is more popularly known as Prof. Mgbeke had alleged that the lawmaker offered her ₦200 million to fabricate allegations against the Senate President. In other news, the federal government continues to face backlash about its reaction to the Benue killings with a recent callout from Peter Obi to Tinubu.
Alongside the nominal complainants in this case – Akpabio and Yahaya Bello, some other witnesses are Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, who are both police officers, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Sandra Duru. Senator Natasha, in response to the charges, pleaded not guilty and has been granted a N50 million bail by Justice Chizoba Orji today.
Initially, her ‘not guilty’ plea had raised the prosecution’s request to have her remanded in prison. However, the defense, led by Roland Otaru, argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses. Justice Orji held that she found no reason to deny the defendant bail, saying there was sufficient evidence that she is willing to face her trial.
Hence, the bail was granted with one surety, who must have a landed property in Abuja and must be a responsible resident of the FCT. Following the proceedings, the judge adjourned the case to September 23, 2025 for trial.
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