Defamation Trial: Court Grants Akpoti-Uduaghan N50m Bail

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted bail to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the sum of N50 million, rejecting the federal government’s request to remand her in prison custody pending trial.

Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice Chizoba Orji held that there was no legal basis to deny the senator bail in the criminal defamation suit filed by the federal government.

“There was sufficient evidence before the court showing her willingness to face trial,” the judge said, dismissing the FG’s application to detain her.

As part of her bail conditions, Akpoti-Uduaghan must provide one surety who is “a person of integrity” and owns landed property within Abuja.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, appeared in court accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, former education minister Oby Ezekwesili, activist Aisha Yesufu, and a host of supporters.

The senator was arraigned on May 16, 2025, on a three-count charge bordering on criminal defamation in suit number CR/297/25. She pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The charges accuse her of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” an offence under section 391 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 392.

The case lists Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello as nominal complainants.

Among the allegations, Akpoti-Uduaghan was said to have claimed in a television interview that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate her. She also allegedly made defamatory remarks about Akpabio in a phone conversation with Sandra C. Duru on March 27, 2025.

The trial was adjourned to September 23.

The charges followed her March 6 suspension from the Senate after accusing Akpabio of harassment and challenging her seating arrangement in the chamber.