Justice Chizoba Orji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has granted N50 million bail to the suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She was arraigned on a three-count charge of defamation brought by the Federal Government, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, accused Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. These allegations were detailed in criminal charges marked CR/297/25, listing Akpabio and Bello as nominal complainants. Specifically, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of claiming that Bello conspired with Akpabio to orchestrate her assassination, to be disguised as a mob or local attack outside Abuja.

These alleged defamatory remarks were made during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025. The charge cited her statements, including: “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks? He then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.” She also allegedly stated concerning Yahaya Bello that “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, to eliminate me. When he met with him, he then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.” The Federal Government contended that she made these imputations knowing or having reason to believe they would harm the reputation of the individuals involved, constituting an offence under section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, punishable under section 392 of the same law.

Additionally, the senator was accused of making defamatory statements about Akpabio during a telephone conversation with rights activist Sandra C. Duru on March 27, 2025, alleging, “That girl that was killed, what’s her name, umm…. Umoren Iniubong, her organs were actually used for the wife because the wife was really ill… when they killed the girl, and her organs were used for the wife.”

In her ruling, Justice Orji rejected the Federal Government’s application to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case. The judge held that there was no reason to deny the defendant bail, noting that there was sufficient evidence of her willingness to face trial. Justice Orji stated, “The defendant is standing trial for defamation. Under defamation as stated in the ACJA, the defendant is entitled to bail, which is at the discretion of the court,” and affirmed that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s presence in court did not indicate a flight risk.

As part of the bail conditions, the court required the defendant to produce one surety, who must be a person of integrity and the owner of a landed property in Abuja. The court based its decision on section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, had opposed the bail application, arguing that the senator posed a flight risk, citing difficulties in serving her with the charge and claiming she traveled outside the country after the charge was filed. However, her legal team, led by Prof Roland Otaru (SAN), argued that as a distinguished senator, she was not a flight risk and had deposed to an oath not to obstruct the investigation. Otaru highlighted that she had traveled on May 19 and returned before June 3, the initially scheduled arraignment date.

The arraignment of Akpoti-Uduaghan had been initially scheduled for June 3, 2025, but was stalled due to a strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria. The prosecution’s subsequent application for a bench warrant against her when she did not appear for arraignment was refused by the court. The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has also weighed in, urging the Federal Government to immediately drop the criminal defamation lawsuit, labeling it a “mockery of justice” and a “grave blow to freedom of expression and the rule of law in Nigeria.” The judge has adjourned the trial to September 23, 2025.

Following the bail grant, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan reacted by sharing a photo with her husband, High Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, and expressing her gratitude. She captioned the photo, “Smile, king of my heart smile. The judge refused granting their wish and said you should take me home. How blessed I am. Thank you good people of Nigeria, Kogi Central and Kogi state.”