Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was granted ₦50 million bail by Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, June 19, along with one surety who must be a resident of Abuja and own land in the area. The bail followed her arraignment on a three-count defamation charge filed by the Federal Government, acting for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, alleging she made false statements accusing them of plotting her assassination during a live Channels Television programme.
Justice Orji noted in her ruling that there was “sufficient evidence that she is willing to face her trial,” basing her decision on constitutional protections under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. The court also set the trial date for September 23, 2025, and maintained that the charges, though serious, did not automatically justify pre-trial detention.
During her arraignment, Akpoti also pleaded not guilty to all counts, as stated by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, and her legal team led by Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN). The charges include allegations that she made defaming imputations on live TV on April 3, claiming that the Senate President emphasized he should be killed, and commenting on unsolicited advances related to her role and constituency security.
