Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello have been listed as prosecution witnesses in Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s criminal defamation trial, which is currently ongoing at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja.
The suspended senator representing Kogi Central is facing charges filed by the Federal Government, which accuses her of making defamatory statements against the two political figures during a live television appearance.
According to court filings dated May 16, Akpoti-Uduaghan is the sole defendant in the case. The prosecution alleges that her statements amount to “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
One of the core charges stems from a televised interview in which Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly accused Akpabio and Bello of conspiring to assassinate her. The government claims she said: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.”
She also allegedly questioned the Senate President’s motives, stating: “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks. He then emphasised that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi. What is important to me is to stay alive, because dead men tell no tales, who is going to get justice for me?”
The prosecution maintains that these remarks were made with the knowledge or strong reason to believe they would damage the reputations of the individuals named.
The case has further stirred political tensions following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate on March 6 over what was described by leadership as “gross misconduct” linked to a dispute over seating arrangements in the chamber involving Akpabio.
As the trial progresses, all eyes will be on Akpabio and Bello’s court appearances, with the potential for high-profile testimony to shape the direction of the case.