Federal Government has arraigned suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for allegedly defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex- governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Senator Natasha was arraigned on Thursday, on a three-count charge bordering on harmful imputation before Justice Chizoba Oji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In count one of the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, Senator Natasha was accused of making a harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Akpabio, by claiming he plotted with former governor Bello to kill her.
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INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that count two stated that she is accused of making a similar harmful imputation, knowing that it would harm the reputation of ex-governor Bello.
In count three, the prosecution accused the Senator of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniubong.
When the charge was read to her in open court, the senator pleaded not guilty.
Following her not-guilty plea, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe, asked for a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution prove its case against the defendant.
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He urged the court to remand the Kogi Senator in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
Counsel for the Kogi Senator, Professor Roland Otaru, informed the court of the bail application filed on behalf of his client and sought the leave of the court to move the application as it was ripe for hearing, adding that same was served on the prosecution and issues had been joined by the parties.
He said: “We already filed an application for bail. We are in a court of law for Justice. We have a motion on Notice dated May 27, 2025. You represent the Ministry of Justice, not the Ministry of Injustice.
“If your lordship graciously will, we urge your lordship to grant the bail application.
“This is a case where your lordship has the discretion to grant bail, and nobody can query it, not even the president can query it. Even on self-recognition because it is not a case of murder.”
Ruling on the application, Justice Oji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital offence, adding that the law presumes the defendant innocent for now.
She subsequently admitted Senator Natasha to bail in the sum of N50 million and one reasonable surety in like sum.
The surety, according to Justice Oji, must own landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
She then adjourned the case to 23 September for the commencement of trial in the charge marked and filed on 15 May 2025.
