Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, a suspended senator from Kogi Central, was docked at the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court in Abuja on Thursday for allegedly disparaging former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adosa Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a television interview, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) put her on trial for three counts of criminal accusations that bordered on hurtful imputations.
Her spouse and a group of supporters escorted the suspended senator to the courtroom for the trial.
She entered a not guilty plea to all of the accusations when they were read.
David Kaswe, the attorney for the Federal Government, requested that Justice Chizoba Orji keep her in custody until the charge was resolved after she denied the accusations.
Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, Natasha’s attorney, requested and was granted permission to move the defendant’s bail application, arguing that it was mature enough to be heard because it had previously been submitted to the prosecution.
Otaru encouraged the judge to use her discretion in Natasha’s favor when she moved the bail application.
He maintained that the suspended senator would not obstruct police investigations or witnesses and was not a flight danger.
Besides, he submitted that the Constitution presumes her innocent while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasizes bail in such an offence.
On his part, the Federal Government 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.
However, 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.
She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in the like sum.
The judge held that the surety must be an owner of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
In the meantime, the trial for the case designated CR/297/25, which was filed on May 15, 2025, has been scheduled to begin on September 23.
In count one, Natasha was charged with fabricating false accusations that she knew would damage Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s reputation by alleging he conspired to assassinate her with former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
She was charged in count two with making a similar damaging imputation with knowledge that it would damage former Governor Yahaya Bello’s reputation.
She was charged with creating another imputation in count three, knowing that it would damage Akpabio’s reputation by linking him to the death of a woman named Miss Imoren Iniobong.
About The Author
