Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for her arraignment over alleged defamation.
She is facing a three-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The charges stem from statements she made during a live television broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, and a telephone conversation with Sandra Duru on March 27, 2025.
According to the Federal Government, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly made defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, claiming they conspired to orchestrate her assassination.
The prosecution argues that she knowingly or recklessly made these imputations, fully aware that they could harm the reputation of the individuals involved.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as witnesses for the trial. The court had previously rejected the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant against Akpoti-Uduaghan due to lack of proper service.
However, the court granted an order for substituted service of the charge through her lawyer, and the case has been adjourned to June 30 for arraignment.
