The Federal High Court, Maitama, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has fixed Thursday, June 19, for the arraignment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation case instituted by the Federal Government on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The date, initially scheduled for June 3, was postponed due to procedural delays. A reminder notice obtained from the court’s registrar, Hiradi Dada, and signed on June 5, confirmed that all parties are expected to appear for the proceedings.
The charge—widely perceived by observers as politically motivated—stems from claims advanced by Akpabio and Bello, with controversial figures such as Ms. Sandra Duru listed as key witnesses. Duru, reportedly a fugitive from justice with an outstanding 2017 arrest warrant over alleged ₦10 million fraud and threats to life, is now being positioned by the Federal Government as a principal witness against Senator Natasha. Legal experts and civic groups have described her involvement as a stain on Nigeria’s judicial integrity.
Public outrage intensified following revelations by Ken Okolugbo, a communications aide to Akpabio, who, in a now-deleted social media post, confessed to participating in a plot to blackmail Senator Natasha.
Okolugbo admitted to attending meetings with Duru and others in London aimed at fabricating evidence to malign the senator. His later claim that his account was hacked has been met with widespread skepticism.
Further complicating the case, media activist Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike was arrested at 3 a.m. in Owerri on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. Obinna had previously alleged, in an interview on Adeola Fayehun’s platform, that he was paid ₦2.5 million by Duru to produce defamatory content against Senator Natasha, linking Akpabio to the scheme. His arrest is being viewed by critics as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices and shield high-level political actors from scrutiny.
The looming court date has placed the spotlight on what many describe as a legal charade designed to persecute Senator Natasha, who has consistently maintained her innocence and described the allegations as baseless. Analysts argue that the involvement of tainted witnesses and the targeting of whistleblowers further undermines the credibility of the prosecution and raises serious concerns about abuse of judicial processes.
As the June 19 arraignment approaches, both Nigerians and the international community will be watching closely. Senator Natasha has expressed confidence that the truth will prevail, even as civic groups continue to demand explanations from the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police regarding why a fugitive like Duru is being shielded from arrest while being used to prosecute a sitting senator.