Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is scheduled to appear in court on tomorrow, Tuesday, following a summons.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the appearance on Sunday, though he noted uncertainty over whether the Federal Government intends to formally arraign her that day.
Idahosa emphasised that Akpoti-Uduaghan, as a law-abiding citizen, will comply with the court’s directives, regardless of the Federal Government’s intentions.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, has filed criminal charges against the senator, accusing her of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The statements were allegedly made during a live interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, and in a private phone conversation on March 27, 2025.
In the TV appearance, Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly claimed that Akpabio and Bello had conspired to have her assassinated. The charge quotes her as saying:
“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 government also alleges that in a phone call with Dr. Sandra Duru, she accused Akpabio of involvement in organ harvesting related to the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for the benefit of Akpabio’s ailing wife.
The case, filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, is marked CR/297/25.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others are listed as prosecution witnesses.
In a phone interview with The Punch, Idahosa said the defence team is prepared for court proceedings.
“If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly with our client,” he stated.
He dismissed talks of protests, saying:
“The issue of protest is irrelevant to us — we are lawyers, and our focus is on defending charges we believe can be contested. Protests are for civil society.”
Idahosa added that Akpoti-Uduaghan respects the rule of law and will honour the court summons:
“Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.”
When asked about the amended charges, Idahosa said the defence team remains in the dark:
“We don’t know what they are trying to do. They’ve amended the charges once and could do so again—it’s their decision.”
