Court sets N50m bail for Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, trial adjourned
Justice Chizoba Orji of the Excessive Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Maitama, has granted bail of N50 million to the suspended senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. She used to be arraigned on a 3-depend tag of defamation brought by the Federal Govt. The senator pleaded not guilty to all of the expenses.
In her ruling, Justice Orji rejected the Federal Govt’s utility to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the likelihood of the case. The win held that there used to be no motive to shriek the defendant bail, noting that there used to be ample evidence of her willingness to face trial.
As piece of the bail cases, the courtroom required the defendant to assemble one surety, who have to be an individual of integrity and the owner of a landed property in Abuja. The courtroom based entirely entirely its resolution on piece 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well to sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Prison Justice Act, 2015.
The win adjourned the trial to September 23, 2025.
The lawmaker is being prosecuted for allegedly making a spurious converse that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a worn Governor of Kogi Divulge, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had been within the assist of a situation to assassinate her.
Within the worth marked CR/297/25, the Federal Govt alleged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, listed because the sole defendant, made the spurious and defamatory remarks whereas appearing as a guest on stay television. It particularly accused her of making an “imputation, gripping or having motive to deem that such imputation will wound the recognition of an individual.”
The worth extra stated that by making such spurious imputations that tarnished the recognition of others, Akpoti-Uduaghan dedicated an offence under piece 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Prison guidelines of the Federation, 1990. The alleged offence is punishable under piece 392 of the equal legislation.
