By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the charge of defaming the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
Natasha was docked at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and put on trial by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice AGF on three-count criminal charges bordering on hurtful imputation.
The suspended Senator and her husband, Emmanuel, alongside former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and activist, Aisha Yesufu, were at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, at Maitama, ahead of her arraignment.
The Federal Government(FG) is prosecuting her over an allegation that she made a false claim that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello, plotted to eliminàte her.
The FG, in the three-count charge marked CR/297/25, alleged that Senator, listed as the sole defendant, made the false and defamatory remarks when she appeared as a guest on a live television.
It specifically accused the lawmaker, who is currently on a six-month suspension, of making “imputation, knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.”
In the reading of the charge, by making such false imputation that tarnished the image of others, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan committed an offence under 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
It noted that the alleged offence is punishable under section 392 of the same law.
And while giving particulars of the offence in count one of the charge, the court heard the FG that the lawmaker committed the alleged crime on April 3, during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
It was learnt that among those listed as witnesses in the matter were Akpabio and Bello, who also were cited as nominal complainants.
Other witnesses expected to testify in the case are two police officers who investigated the matter, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba; a Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and one Sandra Duru, a United States – based journalist and activist, who nicknamed self as Professor Mgbeke.
However when the charge was read, Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan pleaded not guilty.
Following from her plea, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe asked Justice Chizoba Oji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.
But Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru sought and got permission to move bail application for the defendant on the grounds that it was matured for hearing having been served on the prosecution and having joined issues with each other.
In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favour of the defendant.
He argued that the female senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.
He submitted further that the Constitution of the country presumes her innocent, while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasizes bail in such an offence.
However, the prosecuting lawyer urged the judge to refuse the bail application on the ground that the prosecution took great efforts and encountered difficulties before the defendant could be served with the charge.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Chizoba Oji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes her innocent for now.
She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50M and one reasonable surety in the like sum.
The judge held that the surety must be owner of land property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was, therefore, adjourned till September 23 for the commencement of trial in the charge marked CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025.
