The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million to suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Chizoba Orji, who delivered the ruling, dismissed the Federal Government’s application seeking her remand in prison custody, ruling that there was no justification to deny the defendant bail. The court noted there was substantial evidence that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is prepared to stand trial.
As part of the bail conditions, the Senator must provide one surety — a person of integrity who owns a landed property within Abuja.
The court based its decision on Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The matter was adjourned until September 23 for trial.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on defamation and false information. The Federal Government alleges that she made damaging accusations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3.
According to the charge marked CR/297/25, the lawmaker claimed that both men were involved in an alleged plot to assassinate her. The prosecution stated that she made the imputation “knowing or having reason to believe that it would harm the reputation of a person.” The offence is said to contravene Section 391 and is punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Key witnesses listed by the prosecution include Senate President Akpabio, ex-Governor Bello, two police investigators (Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba), Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Sandra Duru.
The charge followed a petition Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan sent to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in which she accused police of bias in the investigation.
This legal battle comes amid a broader political feud between Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership. On June 27, the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to rule on the legality of the six-month suspension imposed on her by the Senate.
The suspension stemmed from a plenary session clash on February 20, during which she protested an alleged change to her seating position and repeatedly attempted to speak against the directive of Senate President Akpabio.
The conflict escalated after she claimed in a televised interview on February 28 that her ordeal began when she rejected inappropriate advances from the Senate President.
In response, she filed an ex-parte motion asking the court to nullify any disciplinary actions taken against her, including the suspension, while her case is pending.
The unfolding case continues to draw public interest, as it intersects allegations of political victimization, gender bias, and abuse of office at the highest levels of Nigeria’s legislative body.
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