JUST IN: Court Grants N50m Bail to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, has granted bail to the suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the sum of N50 million. The court rejected the Federal Government’s request to have her remanded in prison custody pending the trial of her case.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Chizoba Orji stated that there was no sufficient reason to deny the defendant bail, emphasizing that Akpoti-Uduaghan showed readiness to face trial. The court also mandated that she provide a surety of good standing who owns property in Abuja.

Akpoti-Uduaghan faces three charges from the Federal Government, including the accusation of defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello. The charges stem from a television interview in which she claimed that both individuals were involved in a plot to assassinate her. The government alleges that her comments were false and designed to harm the reputations of Akpabio and Bello.

The case, which has drawn considerable attention, has been adjourned until September 23 for trial. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who denies the charges, has also sought legal action against the Senate’s six-month suspension imposed on her following a dispute with the Senate President during a plenary session earlier this year.

This legal battle comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Akpabio of personal misconduct, claiming that her Senate troubles began after she rebuffed advances from him.