Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Granted ₦50m Bail in Defamation Case
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has been released on ₦50 million bail following her not-guilty plea to defamation charges. The decision came Thursday from Justice Chizoba Orji of the FCT High Court.
The bail conditions include one surety—an Abuja resident with verifiable ownership of landed property within the Federal Capital Territory.
The case has been adjourned until September 23, 2025, for trial.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned by the Federal Government on three counts tied to statements allegedly made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The accusations stem from claims the Senator made in both an interview and a phone conversation, suggesting a plot to harm her.
In court, tight security was observed. Among those in attendance were her husband, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili, activist Aisha Yesufu, and several supporters.
According to the charge sheet, the case is based on Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, which address the implications of making statements believed to damage another’s reputation.
The government’s witness list includes both Akpabio and Bello, who are expected to testify during the trial. One of the key allegations is that Akpoti-Uduaghan linked the Senate President and the former governor to a plan aimed at her elimination.
Despite the weight of the accusations, the Senator maintains her innocence. The trial is set to unfold in the coming months.
