Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been granted bail in the sum of N50 million by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, with her trial scheduled to commence on September 23.
Justice Chizoba Orji rejected the Federal Government’s application to remand the suspended Kogi Central senator in prison, ruling that she had demonstrated sufficient willingness to stand trial.
The bail conditions require her to provide a reputable surety with property in Abuja, in accordance with constitutional provisions protecting defendants’ rights.
The charges stem from allegations that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made false and defamatory statements during a live television appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, where she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
The Federal Government contends these remarks violated Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code. Key witnesses in the case include Akpabio, Bello, police investigators Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, as well as Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and Sand
This legal development follows Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s complaint to the Attorney-General about alleged police bias in investigating her petitions against Akpabio.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on June 27 regarding the legality of her six-month Senate suspension, which originated from a February 20 plenary dispute where she repeatedly challenged Akpabio’s rulings.
In subsequent media interviews, she claimed her political troubles began after rejecting what she described as unwanted advances from the Senate President, prompting her to seek judicial intervention to nullify the suspension.**
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