From Victor Osula, Abuja
The suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of defamation before Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
Justice Musa Umar had rejected an application for Natasha’s arrest on Monday, following her absence in court. The court granted her bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety who must be a person of reasonable integrity resident in the FCT, Abuja and owns a land within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), had filed the three-count defamation charge 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 counts one and two, the Federal Government accused Natasha of “Making an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under Section 392 of the same Law.”
She was also accused of having, on or about March 27, 2025, during a two-way telephone conversation with one Sandra C. Duru in Abuja, made certain imputations concerning Akpabio.
The charges came amid Natasha’s allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio
There was an uproar at Senate plenary on 20th February, 2025 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.
Taking her plea on Thursday, Natasha maintained her innocence after the charge was read to her before Justice Orji.
While prosecution lawyer, David Kaswe, had pray the court to remand Natasha in a correctional facility, pending the determination of the case against her, emphasising that the defendant posed a flight risk; Natasha’s counsel Roland Otaru, SAN, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on self-recognition, insisting that the case against her is not an indictable offence.
Otaru described the defendant as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has five local government areas under her constituency. Noting that the maximum punishment for the charge against the defendant is two years’ imprisonment, the defence lawyer urged the court to exercise its discretion in her favour.
