Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the embattled lawmaker representing Kogi Central, has been arraigned for the second time over alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.
On Monday, she appeared before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where she pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). The charges stem from alleged defamation and cybercrime, accusing the senator of making injurious online statements against the two political figures.
Justice Umar granted her bail on self-recognition, citing her status as a serving senator. The matter was adjourned to September 22, 2025, for hearing.
Background and Previous Charges
This latest arraignment comes just 11 days after her first arraignment on June 19 before Justice Chizoba Orji of the FCT High Court, where she faced three-count charges also related to defamation. That case revolves around allegations she made during a television interview and a phone conversation, accusing Akpabio and Bello of orchestrating a plot to assassinate her after her security was withdrawn.
In that earlier case, she was granted ₦50 million bail and is expected to return to court on September 23, 2025.
Political and Legal Fallout
Senator Natasha’s legal challenges began after her explosive public allegations against Akpabio, which triggered a six-month suspension from the Senate in March. She has maintained that the charges are politically motivated attempts to silence dissent, especially from women and opposition voices.
Her supporters and civil society groups have condemned the repeated filings as “forum shopping”—a tactic where multiple similar charges are filed in different courts to pressure and exhaust a defendant. They have also raised alarm over the implications for freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Who Is Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?
Natasha, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and rights advocate, made history as the first woman elected to the Senate from Kogi Central. She ran under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and defeated APC’s Abubakar Ohere in the hotly contested February 2023 elections.
Despite the mounting legal troubles, Natasha has remained defiant, stating she will continue to speak out against political oppression and threats to democratic values.
