Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Granted N50m Bail In Defamation Case.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted bail to suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the sum of N50 million. The ruling, delivered by Justice Chizoba Orji on Thursday, 19 June 2025, rejected the Federal Government’s request to remand the senator in custody pending her trial, citing sufficient evidence that she would attend her court sessions.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who pleaded not guilty, is facing a three-count charge of defamation stemming from comments made during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on 3 April 2025. The Federal Government alleges that the senator falsely claimed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her. According to the charge, marked CR/297/25, these statements were made “knowing or having reason to believe” they would harm the reputations of both individuals, constituting an offence under Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, and punishable under Section 392.
As part of her bail conditions, Justice Orji stipulated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan must provide a surety who is a person of integrity and owns landed property within Abuja. The decision was grounded in Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, reflecting the court’s view that the alleged offence does not warrant pre-trial detention. The case has been adjourned until 23 September 2025 for trial.
The charge sheet lists high-profile witnesses, including Senate President Akpabio, former Governor Bello, a serving senator, Asuquo Ekpenyong, two police officers, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, and one Sandra Duru, who are expected to testify during the trial. The senator’s legal team, led by Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, successfully argued for bail, emphasising her status as a distinguished senator representing five local government areas and noting that the maximum penalty for the alleged offence is two years’ imprisonment.
The case has drawn significant attention, with prominent figures such as former Education Minister Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and activist Aisha Yesufu attending the court session in solidarity with the senator. Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the courtroom accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and her legal team, under tight security. Posts on social media expressed support for the senator, with some users, including broadcaster Adeola Fayehun, celebrating the court’s decision to grant bail, though noting the substantial N50 million bond.
The charges follow a series of controversies involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her six-month suspension from the Senate after a confrontation with Akpabio on 20 February 2025. She alleged in a separate interview on 28 February that her troubles in the Senate began after rejecting unwanted advances from the Senate President, a claim he has denied. She has also filed an ex-parte motion to declare her suspension null and void, with a ruling expected on 27 June 2025.
This legal battle has sparked debates about freedom of expression and the use of defamation laws, with some observers on X describing the charges as an attempt to silence the senator. ActionAid Nigeria, in a post on 23 May 2025, condemned the charges as a “misuse of state power” and a threat to democracy. As the trial approaches, the case is expected to remain a focal point of public and political discourse in Nigeria.
