The suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, was on Thursday docked at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for allegedly defaming the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.

She was put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on three-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputation.

The embattled suspended senator was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband and associates.

However, when the charge was read, she pleaded not guilty.

After her plea, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe, asked Justice Chisoba Oji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.

However, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru, sought and got permission to move the bail application for the defendant because it was mature for hearing, having served on the prosecution and having joined issues with each other.

In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favour of the defendant.

He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with the police investigation and witnesses.

Besides, he submitted that the Constitution of the country presumes her innocent, while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasises bail in such an offence.

On his part, the prosecuting lawyer urged the judge to refuse the bail application, adding that the prosecution had taken great efforts and encountered difficulties before the defendant could be served with the charge.

However, in her ruling, Justice Oji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes her innocent for now.

She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50m and one reasonable surety in the like sum.

The judge ruled that the surety must be the owner of land property within the court’s jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, September 23 has been fixed for the commencement of the trial in the charge marked CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025.

Natasha is, in count one of the charge, accused of making a harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of the Senate President by claiming he plotted with Bello to kill her.

In count two, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making a similar harmful imputation, knowing that it will harm the reputation of Bello.

She is, in count three, accused of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniubong.