Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was arraigned on Thursday, June 19, 2025, before Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja. She faced a three-count criminal charge bordering on alleged defamation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. The arraignment was initiated by the Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, with the suit marked CR/297/25 and filed on May 16, 2025. The courtroom saw a strong show of solidarity for the senator, with notable public figures like former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili and activist Aisha Yesufu, alongside her husband and numerous supporters, in attendance.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all three charges. The accusations stem from comments she allegedly made during a live television broadcast on April 3 and a private phone conversation on March 27, 2025. In one of the charges, she is accused of claiming that Akpabio and Bello plotted her assassination. Specific quotes attributed to her include, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me,” and “He then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.” She also allegedly claimed her security detail was withdrawn to make her vulnerable to attacks. The charges assert that these imputations were made knowing or having reason to believe they would harm the reputations of Akpabio and Bello, in violation of sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

Following her plea, Justice Chizoba Orji granted Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan bail in the sum of N50 million, rejecting the Federal Government's application to remand her in prison custody. The trial judge found no reason to deny bail, noting sufficient evidence of the defendant's willingness to face trial. As a condition for bail, the court mandated that she produce one surety, who must be a person of integrity and owner of a landed property within Abuja. This ruling was based on section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The current legal battle is not Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's first. She was previously suspended from the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following an altercation over seating arrangements, which she described as harassment by Akpabio. She has consistently maintained that her suspension was illegal, unjust, and a ploy to silence her. In the weeks following her suspension, she made several public accusations and submitted petitions against the Senate President, including the assassination plot claim. Both Senator Akpabio and former Governor Bello had earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding an investigation and prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. Justice Chizoba Orji has fixed September 23, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.