Court grants N50m bail to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in defamation case

Suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Thursday granted N50 million bail after being arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on charges of criminal defamation.

The charges, brought by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, accuse her of making injurious statements about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello during a live television interview.

Appearing in court with her husband and supporters, Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

Lead prosecutor Mr David Kaswe requested that the defendant be remanded in custody, arguing that the government had experienced difficulty in securing her attendance.

Defence counsel Professor Roland Otaru (SAN) opposed the application, stating that the senator had cooperated with police investigations and posed no flight risk. He urged the court to grant bail in line with her constitutional right to the presumption of innocence.

In a brief ruling, Justice Chizoba Orji held that the offence was not capital in nature and bail was appropriate under Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

She was granted N50 million bail with one surety in the same amount, who must own property within the court’s jurisdiction.

The trial was adjourned to 23 September 2025 for full hearing.

According to the charge sheet marked CR/297/25, the prosecution alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely claimed Senator Akpabio conspired with Yahaya Bello to kill her.

The second count accuses her of making similar defamatory remarks about Bello, while the third alleges she falsely connected Akpabio to the death of Miss Imoren Iniobong in a bid to damage his reputation.

The government contends that the statements were knowingly made to harm the public figures' reputations and violated provisions of the criminal code.