Alleged defamation: Senator Natasha arraigned and granted bail

Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned by the Federal Government today, June 30, at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suspended female lawmaker was charged with six counts of alleged defamation against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio before Justice Mohammed Umar. She was given bail on self-recognition after entering a not guilty plea after being informed of the charges.The judge adjourned the case to September 22, 2025, for commencement of trial. Applying for bail, her counsel, Roland Otaru (SAN), had requested that she be granted bail on self-recognition as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a senior member of the bar. He had argued that there was no counter affidavit from the prosecution challenging the bail application Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator Natasha's husband, activist Aisha Yesufu, and her supporters accompanied her to court on Monday.This marked the lawmaker's second arraignment on charges of defaming Bello and Akpabio. She was arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court last week on June 19, 2025, on a similar charge. The judge at the most recent hearing denied the Federal Government's request to have Senator Natasha arrested for not showing up for the trial.The judge's decision came after David Kaswe, the government's attorney, acknowledged serving the charge on her attorney in the courtroom that same morning. The judge said as the Kogi Central Senator had not previously been served the charge or hearing notice, it was therefore inconceivable that she would be present in the courtroom. He, on that premise, refused the prosecutions application for a bench warrant. According to the charge sheet, Senator Natasha had alleged on a live television programme that Akpabio and Bello were plotting her assassination. The Nigerian Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had instituted the lawsuit bordering on defamation, against the Senator.The post Alleged defamation: Senator Natasha arraigned and granted bail appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.