Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan was on Thursday docked at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja for allegedly defaming the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adosa Bello.
She was put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) on three-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputations during a television interview.
The suspended senator was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband and a retinue of sympathizers.
When the charges were read, she pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Upon her denial of the allegations, the Federal Government lawyer, David Kaswe, asked Justice Chizoba Orji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.
However, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, sought and got permission to move bail application for the defendant on the ground that it was mature for hearing, having already been served on the prosecution.
In moving the bail application, Otaru urged the judge to exercise her discretion in favor of Natasha.
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 Federal Government lawyer made spirited efforts to get the bail application refused, arguing that it took great efforts and difficulties before Natasha could be served with the charge.
However, in her brief ruling, Justice Orji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes Natasha innocent for now.
She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in the like sum.
The judge held that the surety must be an owner of landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Meanwhile, September 23 has been fixed for commencement of trial in the charge marked CR/297/25 filed on May 15, 2025.
Natasha was, in count one, accused of making harmful imputation which she knew would harm the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by claiming he plotted, with former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, to kill her.
In count two, she was accused of making a similar harmful imputation knowing that it will harm the reputation of ex-governor Yahaya Bello.
In count three, she was accused of making another imputation, which she knew would harm the reputation of Akpabio by associating him with the death of one Miss Imoren Iniobong.
