Oluwatosin Enesi
Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and activist Aisha Yesufu were among notable figures present at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama today, ahead of the arraignment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The embattled lawmaker, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, arrived at the court around 10:27 a.m. accompanied by her husband and legal team. Security around the court premises was visibly tightened.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a three-count criminal charge filed by the Federal Government, which accuses her of making false and defamatory statements during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3.
According to the charge (CR/297/25), she allegedly claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were behind a plot to assassinate her. The government argues that her comments were knowingly injurious to the reputations of both men, offences said to contravene Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code.
Akpabio and Bello have been listed as nominal complainants and are expected to testify, along with two police investigators, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, and Sandra Duru.
The charges came shortly after Akpoti-Uduaghan petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation, alleging bias by the police in investigating her claims against the Senate President.
The senator, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the upper legislative chamber, has separately approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the legality of her suspension. The court is expected to rule on the matter on June 27.
The suspension stemmed from a heated plenary session on February 20, during which Akpoti-Uduaghan had a confrontation with the Senate President over her seating position. Her refusal to yield the floor after being overruled led to a referral to the Senate Ethics Committee.
In a separate interview aired on February 28, she alleged that her problems in the Senate began after she rejected personal advances from Akpabio. She is seeking a court order declaring any action taken by the Senate committee during the pendency of her legal challenge, including the suspension, as “null and void.”
Justice Chizoba Orji is expected to preside over the arraignment.
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