June 19, 2025
The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan was on Thursday arraigned at the federal High court, Abuja for allegedly defaming the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adosa Bello.
The suspended senator who was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband and a retinue of sympathizers, was put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice on three-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputations during a television interview.
However, Senator Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read.
Following her denial of the allegations, the Federal Government lawyer, David Kaswe, asked the presiding Justice Chizoba Orji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.
But, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, sought and got permission to move bail application for the defendant on the ground that it was mature for hearing, having already been served on the prosecution.
In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favor of Natasha.
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He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.
Besides, he submitted that the Constitution presumes her innocent while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasizes bail in such an offence.
The Federal Government prosecuting lawyer made spirited efforts to get the bail application refused, arguing that it took great efforts and difficulties before Natasha could be served with the charge.
In her brief ruling, Justice Orji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes Natasha innocent for now until proven guilty and admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in the like sum.
Justice Orji, held that the surety must be an owner of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and fixed September 23 for commencement of trial in the charge marked CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025.
Natasha was in court on three count charges, making of harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by claiming he plotted, with former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, to kill her.
Making a similar harmful imputation knowing that it will harm the reputation of ex-governor Yahaya Bello and making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniobong.
