The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday granted bail to suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the sum of ₦50 million with one surety who must reside in Abuja and own a landed property within the municipal area.
Justice Chizoba Orji granted the bail following the senator’s arraignment on a three-count charge filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, accusing her of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charges stem from comments made during a live Channels Television programme on April 3, where Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly claimed that Akpabio and Bello conspired to have her assassinated. She is also accused of making damaging remarks about Akpabio in a separate phone conversation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all charges. While the prosecution opposed her bail application, citing flight risk, her legal counsel, Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN), argued that she should be presumed innocent and granted bail, stressing the case is not capital in nature.
The case is adjourned for trial, with Akpabio, Bello, and others listed as prosecution witnesses. A parallel charge on similar grounds is also pending before Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, where the senator has yet to be served.
