Defamation Trial: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Arrives Court Over Assassination Claim Against Akpabio, Yahaya Bello

Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, June 20, arrived at the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, to face a defamation charge filed by the Federal Government over explosive comments she made during a live broadcast accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination.

Wearing a black outfit and flanked by aides, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made her way into the courtroom at exactly 10:30 a.m., ahead of the scheduled trial session. Tensions were high as supporters gathered quietly outside the premises, awaiting proceedings in a case many see as politically explosive.

The charge, marked CR/297/25, was brought before the court by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Government. It stems from Akpoti’s April 3, 2025 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where she accused two top political figures of conspiring to eliminate her.

According to the charge sheet, the lawmaker alleged that her security was intentionally withdrawn by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to render her vulnerable, and claimed that he and Yahaya Bello discussed ensuring her death would appear as a mob attack staged in Kogi State. “He emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi,” she said during the interview.

The prosecution claims these statements were made with the intent to damage the reputation of both Akpabio and Bello, and that Akpoti-Uduaghan acted either with knowledge or reckless disregard for the potential harm of her words. Both Akpabio and Bello are listed as nominal complainants in the case.

This is the first time in recent history that a sitting or suspended senator has been criminally prosecuted for comments made during a national broadcast, raising fears over growing restrictions on political speech. Human rights groups and political observers are monitoring the trial closely, citing broader implications for press freedom and whistleblower protections.

Legal experts say if convicted, Akpoti-Uduaghan could face fines, a custodial sentence, or both, depending on the ruling of the trial judge. However, her legal team is expected to argue that her statements fall within the ambit of free speech and were made in good faith to protect her life.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, known for her fiery stance against political corruption and violence, has maintained that her life is under threat and insists her claims are not mere accusations but warnings grounded in real danger. The case resumes later today, with courtroom watchers predicting a high-stakes legal showdown.