Victor EzejaNatasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, was on Thursday granted bail in the sum of N50 million by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.
The court, which also mandated her to provide a surety who must be a person of reasonable integrity, living in FCT Abuja and owning a landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, opposed the Federal Government’s bid to have her remanded in custody pending trial.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelJustice Chizoba Orji, the trial judge, gave the ruling after listening to arguments for and against the bail application from the parties in the suit.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had failed to show why the suspended Kogi Central lawmaker should be denied bail, noting that the senator had demonstrated “sufficient willingness” to face the charges against her.
In the case marked CR/297/25, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) filed a three-count criminal charge of criminal defamation against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is the sole defendant. The AGF accused the lawmaker of making defamatory statements against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during a live television broadcast that circulated widely.
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She was accused of making false claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, both of whom are listed as nominal complainants.
One of the charges accuses her of claiming during the televised interview that Akpabio and Bello planned her assassination and intended to disguise it as a mob attack. Another charge refers to a private phone conversation allegedly linking Akpabio to a controversial murder case involving organ harvesting.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Her arraignment comes after weeks of political tension following her suspension from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct,” which the senator claims was in response to her public accusations of harassment and power abuse by Senate leadership.
In response to her allegations, Akpabio petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to look into and prosecute Akpoti-Uduaghan for incitement and criminal defamation.
In a similar petition, Bello accused the senator of trying to stir up trouble and spreading lies.
The case is scheduled for trial in September.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
