The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has rescheduled the arraignment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for June 19, 2025, in a controversial defamation case filed by the Federal Government on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
Originally slated for June 3, the case was postponed due to procedural delays. A fresh court notice, signed by Registrar Hiradi Dada on June 5, confirms that all parties must appear for the hearing.
The case, widely regarded by observers as politically motivated, centers around allegations pushed by Akpabio and Bello, with the Federal Government relying heavily on Ms. Sandra Duru, a figure mired in controversy. Duru is reportedly a fugitive wanted since 2017 for ₦10 million fraud and threats to life, raising alarm over her role as a “star witness” in the prosecution of a sitting senator.
Tensions escalated after Ken Okolugbo, Akpabio’s communications aide, posted — then deleted — a damning confession on social media, admitting his involvement in a blackmail plot against Senator Natasha. Okolugbo later claimed his account was hacked, but Nigerians remain skeptical.
In a related twist, media activist Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike was arrested at 3 a.m. in Owerri following his public confession that he received ₦2.5 million from Duru to produce defamatory content targeting Natasha. He also implicated Akpabio. His arrest has drawn outrage, with critics accusing the police of muzzling whistleblowers while protecting powerful figures.
Legal experts and civil rights organizations have condemned the case as a misuse of judicial power, calling for accountability from the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police over their protection of a known fugitive now being used to prosecute a high-profile senator.
As the nation awaits the June 19 proceedings, the case continues to stir public debate over the independence of the judiciary and the weaponization of state institutions for political ends. Senator Natasha has reaffirmed her innocence, stating she is ready to defend herself in court and confident that the truth will ultimately triumph.
