By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
A strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has led to the postponement of the scheduled arraignment of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended senator from Kogi Central.
The strike, which began on June 1, 2025, resulted in the closure of many courts, including all Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high courts, stalling the proceedings.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was due to appear in the FCT High Court on June 3, 2025, to face criminal charges filed by the Federal Government.
She is accused of making defamatory remarks against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The charges relate to statements she allegedly made during a live television interview and in a private phone conversation.
The charge, filed under case number CR/297/25, outlines specific allegations, including Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims during a Politics Today broadcast on Channels TV on April 3, 2025.
During the broadcast, she accused Akpabio and Bello of plotting to assassinate her. The charge quotes her saying, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night—to eliminate me… He then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi.”
Additionally, in a conversation with Dr. Sandra Duru on March 27, 2025, the senator allegedly linked Akpabio to the organ harvesting of the late Iniubong Umoren for his sick wife, a claim that forms part of the defamation charges.
The Federal Government has charged Akpoti-Uduaghan under Sections 391 and 392 of Nigeria’s Penal Code, which address defamation and criminal damage to reputation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) West Idahosa, had previously confirmed that she intended to comply with the court’s summons.
Idahosa assured that his client was prepared to attend the arraignment, stating, “Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken. Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.”
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