Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan was yesterday at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
She was docked for allegedly defaming the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
She was put on trial by the Office of the Minister of Justice/Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on three-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputation.
The embattled senator was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, associates and sympathisers including former Eductional Minister Oby Ezekwesili.
When the charge was read, she pleaded not guilty.
In view of her plea, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe asked Justice Chisoba Oji to remand her in prison till the determination of the suit.
But Natasha’s lawyer, Prof Roland Otaru, sought and got permission to move bail application for the defendant on the grounds that it was matured for hearing, having been served on the prosecution and having joined issues with each other.
In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favour of the defendant.
He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.
Besides, he submitted that the Constitution presumes her innocent, while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasizes bail in such an offence.
On his part, the prosecuting lawyer urged the judge to refuse the bail application, adding that the prosecution took great efforts and encountered difficulties before the defendant could be served with the charge.
Ruling, Justice Oji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes her innocent for now.
She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one reasonable surety in the like sum.
The judge held that the surety must be owner of land property within the jurisdiction of the court and fixed September 23 for the commencement of trial in the charge marked: CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025.
Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan is in count one of the charge, accused of making harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of Senator Akpabio, by claiming he plotted with former Kogi governor (Yahaya Bello), to kill her.
In count two, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making a similar harmful imputation knowing that it will harm the reputation of the former governor.
She is, in count three, accused of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniubong.
