Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Nigerian Senate, was on Thursday arraigned before Justice Chizoba Orji at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja over allegations of defamation.
The charges, filed by the Federal Government, concern statements she allegedly made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The court premises saw heightened security, as the trial drew considerable public attention. Among those in attendance were Akpoti-Uduaghan’s husband, former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, vocal activist Aisha Yesufu, and numerous supporters who turned up in solidarity with the embattled senator.
The federal prosecutors filed a three-count charge accusing the senator of making damaging imputations with the knowledge or reason to believe that such statements would harm the reputations of the individuals involved. The charges fall under Section 391 of the Penal Code, CAP 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and are punishable under Section 392 of the same code.
Central to the case is an interview granted by Akpoti-Uduaghan in which she alleged that both Akpabio and Bello conspired to eliminate her. She claimed the Senate President played a role in withdrawing her official security detail to leave her exposed, stating:
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me. 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 emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
Another count relates to a private telephone conversation, which reportedly took place on or about March 27, 2025, between the senator and one Sandra C. Duru in Abuja. During that call, Akpoti-Uduaghan is said to have made similar claims about the Senate President’s involvement in plots against her life.
The prosecution alleges that these remarks were made with the intent to harm the reputation of the high-profile individuals named, and that her conduct violates Nigeria’s criminal code provisions on defamation. The list of witnesses filed by the prosecution indicates that both Akpabio and Bello will be called to testify during the trial.
This high-stakes legal battle has not only gripped the political class but also drawn the interest of civil society, given Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rising profile as a female lawmaker and the sensitive nature of the allegations. The case also underscores ongoing concerns over freedom of expression, political rivalry, and the use of criminal defamation laws in Nigeria.
At the time of reporting, the court had yet to take a plea from the senator or schedule a formal date for the commencement of full trial proceedings.
What You Should Know
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been charged by the Federal Government with criminal defamation over claims linking Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi
Governor Yahaya Bello to an alleged plot to assassinate her. The charges stem from public and private statements she allegedly made, and both Akpabio and Bello are expected to testify during the trial.
