Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja today, accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, ahead of her arraignment in a high-profile defamation case filed by the Federal Government.
The charges stem from allegations made by the senator against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, whom she accused of conspiring to orchestrate her assassination. The Federal Government contends that these statements, made during a televised interview and a private phone conversation, were defamatory and intended to damage the reputations of the individuals involved.
Security was visibly heightened around the court premises as supporters, civil society leaders, and prominent figures, including former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili and activist Aisha Yesufu, gathered in solidarity with the embattled senator.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, maintains that her statements were made in the interest of public safety and transparency. She has previously stated that her ordeal began after she rejected sexual harassment, a claim that has sparked widespread public discourse.
The case, which has drawn national attention, is being heard before Justice Chizoba Orji. The court has granted the senator bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with conditions including the provision of a surety who owns property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council.