Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is expected to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday in compliance with a court summons.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the development on Sunday, stating that while it remains unclear whether the Federal Government plans to formally arraign her, Akpoti-Uduaghan will honour the court’s directive as a law-abiding citizen.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal defamation charges against the senator.
The charges stem from alleged statements made during a live television interview and a private phone call, in which Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to harm her.
According to court documents filed on May 16, 2025, and marked CR/297/25, the government alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan, during an April 3 appearance on Politics Today on Channels TV, claimed that Akpabio and Bello discussed a plan 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 alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made further defamatory claims during a phone call on March 27, 2025, with one Dr Sandra Duru, in which she reportedly linked Akpabio to alleged organ harvesting involving the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for the benefit of his ailing wife.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as key witnesses for the prosecution.
Speaking with The PUNCH, Idahosa said the legal team is fully prepared to defend Akpoti-Uduaghan against the charges, regardless of the nature of Tuesday’s proceedings.
“If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client,” he said. “Our focus is on the legal process, not protests — that’s the role of civil society groups.”
He reaffirmed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s willingness to cooperate with the court, stressing, “Our client is a law-abiding citizen. She will appear as summoned.
Only institutions that disrespect the law fail to comply with court orders — and she is not in that category.”
When asked about the prospect of an arraignment, Idahosa replied, “We’re unsure. We’ve seen a notice of amended charges.
They’ve amended them before and may do so again. It’s entirely within their discretion.”