By John Umeh
Suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is expected to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday in response to a court summons related to a defamation case.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the court appearance in a statement on Sunday. However, he noted uncertainty regarding whether the Federal Government intends to formally arraign her at the scheduled hearing.
Regardless of the prosecution’s next move, Idahosa emphasized that his client will honor the court’s directives, adding that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to due legal process.
Criminal Charges Filed by Federal Government
The Federal Government, through the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed a series of criminal charges against the former senator. The case centers on claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan made defamatory remarks both during a live television interview and in a private phone conversation.
According to court documents filed on May 16, 2025, and registered as case number CR/297/25, the charges stem from a statement made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during an April 3, 2025 appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today. In the interview, she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello held a meeting in which plans to have her assassinated were discussed.
Quoting her words, the charge states: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night— to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi.”
Further Allegations and Witness List
In addition to the television broadcast, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making further defamatory claims during a private telephone call on March 27, 2025. In that conversation, allegedly with a woman identified as Dr. Sandra Duru, she purportedly claimed that Akpabio was involved in organ harvesting linked to the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for his ailing spouse.
Both Akpabio and Bello have been named as key witnesses for the prosecution, alongside four others expected to testify during the trial.
Legal Team Responds
According to sources, Idahosa expressed confidence in their legal defense, saying his team is fully prepared to respond to the charges. “If the matter is heard tomorrow, we will take the necessary legal steps. Protests are not our focus — our responsibility lies in challenging the charges in court.”
He added that Akpoti-Uduaghan has no intention of defying the summons. “She is a law-abiding citizen and will not shun the court. It’s only institutions that disregard the rule of law that ignore court orders, and she certainly does not belong in that category.”
On the potential arraignment, Idahosa stated that the defense team had seen a notice regarding amended charges but was unsure what the government’s final approach would be. “They’ve already revised the charges once. Whether they’ll do it again remains to be seen — it’s their prerogative,” he said.
