Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is expected to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday following a court summons.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed her attendance in a statement on Sunday, adding that while it remains unclear whether the Federal Government plans to formally arraign her, Akpoti-Uduaghan will comply with the court’s directive.
“She is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she appear? It’s a summons we’ve acknowledged. Only institutions that disrespect court orders would do otherwise — and she is not in that category,” Idahosa said.
The Federal Government, through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan on May 16, 2025, accusing her of making defamatory statements during a live television broadcast and a private phone call.
In one charge, the senator allegedly claimed on Politics Today on Channels TV, aired April 3, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello discussed plans 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.
She is also accused of making defamatory remarks in a March 27 phone conversation with one Dr. Sandra Duru, where she allegedly linked Akpabio to organ harvesting involving the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for his wife’s benefit.
Akpabio, Bello, and four others are listed as prosecution witnesses.
Idahosa said the defence team is prepared. “If the case is called, we’ll respond accordingly. We’re focused on defending our client against charges we believe can be contested in court. Protests are for civil society — our job is legal defence,” he said.
Regarding a possible arraignment, he added: “We don’t know yet. We’ve seen a notice of amended charges. They’ve amended them once and may do so again — it’s their call.”
