A High Court in Abuja has granted bail to suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the sum of ₦50 million over charges of defamation brought against her by the Attorney General of the Federation. The court, presided over by Justice Chizoba Orji, delivered the ruling on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, following her arraignment on a three-count charge. The conditions of the bail include the provision of one surety who must reside within Abuja Municipal Area Council and possess verifiable landed property in the capital.
The charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan stem from statements she made during a live interview on Channels Television’s programme Politics Today, aired on April 3, 2025. In the interview, she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had planned to have her assassinated by disguising it as a mob attack. In addition, she was accused of making defamatory remarks in a telephone conversation on March 27, claiming that the organs of a murdered girl were harvested and sold for the benefit of a governor’s wife.
Federal prosecutors opposed her bail, arguing that she posed a flight risk, especially after allegedly traveling abroad shortly after the case was filed. They claimed she had evaded multiple arrest attempts by security agencies. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defense team insisted that she had consistently shown willingness to cooperate with the judicial process and was entitled to bail under Nigerian law, especially as the charges were bailable.
In her ruling, Justice Orji emphasized that defamation is not a capital offence and does not warrant the denial of bail. She acknowledged the senator’s voluntary appearance in court and noted that there was no sufficient evidence to suggest she would jump bail. As a result, she dismissed the prosecution’s request to remand her and granted the bail application.
The case has sparked significant reactions from civil society, particularly from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The organization criticized the federal government’s decision to pursue criminal defamation charges, calling it an abuse of legal process and a threat to freedom of expression. SERAP urged the authorities to drop the charges and instead focus on promoting democratic accountability.
The court has fixed September 23, 2025, for the commencement of the trial. Until then, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remains free under the bail conditions set by the court.
