From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, rejected an application by the Federal Government to have the suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, arrested for failing to appear for the start of her defamation trial.
The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had filed criminal charges against Natasha over an alleged plot to assassinate her.
Filed before the court, the charges stem from remarks Natasha alleged when she featured on Politics Today, a live programme on Channels Television, on April 3, 2025.
Marked FCT/HC/CR/297/2025, the charge referenced Natasha’s allegation of a plot to kill her during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today, aired on April 3, 2025.
During the said interview, Natasha allegedly accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, of a plot to assassinate her.
In count one, the Federal Government accused Natasha of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
The offence, according to the charge, is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
The charges came amid allegation of Natasha’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.
The uproar at Senate plenary on 20th February arose as a dispute over seating arrangements led to a heated exchange between Natasha and Akpabio. The commotion began after the Kogi Senator voiced her displeasure at the change of her seat.
Natasha had accused the Senate President of persistent sexual harassment. She claimed that Akpabio’s hostility toward her stems from her refusal to entertain them.
“My refusal to yield to his consistent advances, both within and outside the country, is the reason behind the victimisation I face in the Senate. It all started on the 8th of December 2023, which was a day before his birthday and my birthday; we are birthday mates”, she claimed, an allegation that the Senate President consistently denied.
Natasha was suspended on March 6 for six months over alleged misconduct and violation of Senate rules. Her suspension includes the withdrawal of her salary, security details, barred access to the National Assembly premises and identifying herself as a senator.
The government is prosecuting Natasha on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello.
At Monday’s proceeding, the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, told the court that the matter was for arraignment but that the defendant was not in court. The Prosecutor told the court that he served the charge on the defendant’s counsel, which meant that the defendant was well aware of the matter.
He, therefore, prayed the court for a bench warrant to be issued against the defendant for failing to appear in court despite being aware of the charge against her.
“It was this morning that we were able to serve the defendant through her counsel, but the defendant is not in court. So, it means the defendant is aware of this matter but decided not to appear in court. In the light of this, I apply that a bench warrant be issued against her for failure to attend court to take her plea in this criminal charge”, Kaswe said.
Counsel for the defendant, Jacob Usman (SAN), told the court that he found the application of the prosecution strange and uncourteous.
In his ruling, Justice Musa Umar struck out the application.
