Abuja, FCT – Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, is scheduled for arraignment in a defamation case on June 19, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The suit has been brought by the Federal Government, purportedly on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The initial arraignment date of June 3 was adjourned due to procedural delays. A reminder notice, issued on June 5 and obtained from the court’s registrar, Hiradi Dada, confirms that all parties are expected to appear for the proceedings on the new date.
Close observers and analysts suggest that the charge may be politically motivated, stemming from claims advanced by the plaintiffs. Concerns regarding the integrity of the judicial process have been raised due to the listing of Ms. Sandra Duru as a key witness. Ms. Duru reportedly has unresolved issues with law enforcement agencies concerning alleged criminal activities. Legal experts and civic groups contend that her inclusion as a star witness against a sitting senator “is a stain on Nigeria’s judicial integrity.”
Public skepticism regarding the impartiality of the proceedings has further intensified following alleged revelations by Mr. Ken Okolugbo. In a social media post, which he subsequently claimed was a result of his account being hacked, Okolugbo reportedly confessed to participating in a plot to allegedly blackmail Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. This alleged plot, which purportedly involved a meeting with Ms. Duru and others in London, aimed at fabricating evidence to malign the Senator. Despite Okolugbo’s retraction, public doubt about the veracity of his “hacked account” claim persists.
Adding to concerns about the case’s credibility, media activist Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, who was reportedly willing to provide evidence in Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defense, was allegedly arrested in Owerri on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. Akuwudike had previously alleged in an interview on Adeola Fayehun’s platform that he was contacted by Ms. Duru to produce defamatory content against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Analysts argue that the reliance on Ms. Duru as a witness, given the controversies surrounding her, coupled with the alleged arrest of the activist Akuwudike, collectively erodes the credibility of the case and raises serious questions about the fairness of the judicial processes involved.
As the June 19 arraignment date approaches, both Nigerian citizens and the international community are anticipated to monitor the proceedings closely. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has reportedly expressed confidence that the truth will ultimately prevail.
