Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, is scheduled to appear in court this Tuesday, June 3, 2025, following a summons related to criminal defamation charges filed against her by the Federal Government.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the court date on Sunday but expressed uncertainty about whether the Federal Government will formally arraign her during the session. “Whatever the plans of the Federal Government, Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a law-abiding citizen, would comply with the court’s directives,” Idahosa stated.
The charges stem from allegations that Akpoti-Uduaghan made defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello during a live television broadcast on April 3, 2025, and a private telephone conversation on March 27, 2025. The statements included claims that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her, with Akpoti-Uduaghan quoted as saying, “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.”
Additionally, she allegedly accused Akpabio of involvement in organ harvesting linked to the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly benefiting his ailing wife, during a call with Dr. Sandra Duru.
The Federal Government, represented by Director of Public Prosecutions Mohammed Abubakar, filed the criminal charges on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court under case number CR/297/25. Akpabio, Bello, and four others are slated as key witnesses.
Idahosa emphasized the legal team’s readiness to defend Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying, “If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client. The issue of protest is irrelevant to us — we are lawyers, and our focus is on defending charges we believe can be contested.”
He added, “Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken. Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.”
Regarding the possibility of arraignment, Idahosa noted, “We don’t know. We saw a notice of amended charges. We don’t know what they are trying to do. They’ve amended the charges once and could do so again—it’s their decision.”
