Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, following a summons by the Federal Government in a case involving alleged criminal defamation.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa, SAN, confirmed the senator’s scheduled court appearance in a statement on Sunday, stressing that his client remains committed to complying with the rule of law.
“Whatever the plans of the Federal Government may be, our client is a law-abiding citizen and will honour the court’s directives,” Idahosa said.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed a criminal suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of making defamatory statements during both a live television interview and a private telephone conversation. The statements allegedly targeted the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge sheet filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court and marked CR/297/25, the government alleges that during an April 3, 2025, appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night — to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” the charge quotes her as saying.
In a separate count, the government accuses the senator of making further defamatory statements during a March 27, 2025, telephone conversation with a woman identified as Dr Sandra Duru. In the call, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly accused Akpabio of being involved in organ harvesting related to the death of Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for the benefit of his ailing wife.
The Federal Government listed Akpabio, Bello, and four others as key witnesses in the trial.
When asked about the possible arraignment on Tuesday, Idahosa expressed uncertainty, noting that the prosecution had already amended the charges once and may do so again.
“We don’t know. We saw a notice of amended charges. We don’t know what they are trying to do. It’s their decision,” he said.
He added that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team was fully prepared to defend her, saying, “If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly. Our focus is on contesting the charges — the issue of protest is irrelevant to us. That is for civil society. As lawyers, we will do our duty in court.”
Idahosa dismissed any suggestion that the senator might avoid appearing in court. “Our client is not one to disrespect court orders. Only institutions that disregard the judiciary behave that way. She is not in that category,” he emphasized.
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