Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday to face a second arraignment in a defamation case brought against her by the Federal Government.
The charges stem from comments she allegedly made during a television interview, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to assassinate her.
The lawmaker arrived at the court accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, well-known activist Aisha Yesufu, and a group of supporters, garnering significant attention.
The case is being presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar.
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This court appearance follows a related charge filed earlier this month.
On June 19, 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan faced similar accusations at the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
During that previous hearing, the judge denied a request from the Federal Government for a bench warrant against the senator for her failure to appear.
Government counsel David Kaswe admitted that the charges had only been served on her lawyer that morning inside the courtroom.
As a result, the judge dismissed the prosecution’s request for Senator Natasha’s arrest, ruling that it was unreasonable to expect her presence when she had not been previously served.
The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, filed the lawsuit, which focuses on the alleged defamatory comments.