Natasha Attends Court With Husband, Ezekwesili
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alongside her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, appeared at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday morning, ahead of her scheduled arraignment on defamation-related charges.
The embattled lawmaker arrived at the courtroom around 10:30 am, ahead of the 11:00 am session presided over by Justice C.N. Oji. Her appearance drew heightened security, with a significant presence of operatives from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) stationed around the court premises.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a criminal charge brought by the Federal Government through the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar. The case, marked CR/297/25, stems from comments allegedly made by the senator during a live appearance on Channels Television and a public address delivered in April 2025.
According to the charge sheet, the senator is accused of transmitting “false information” via computer networks, specifically claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio allegedly conspired with former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in a plot to assassinate her.
One of the statements attributed to her reads: “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to ensure my killing is done in Kogi, so it appears like a local issue.”
In addition to the current proceedings, the Federal Government had previously filed a separate three-count charge against her in May, captured under suit number CR/1277/25, also centered around allegations of defaming Senate President Akpabio and former Governor Bello.
The charges levelled against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan include cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and defamation—offences under the newly amended Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024. If convicted, the penalties could include substantial fines and possible imprisonment.
Accompanying the senator to court was her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, a former governorship aspirant, who provided quiet support as she made her way into the courtroom. Also present in solidarity was a former Minister of Education and social advocate, Obiageli Ezekwesili.