Security was visibly reinforced at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Wednesday as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared for her arraignment on charges bordering on alleged criminal defamation.
The Senator representing Kogi Central is facing a three-count charge brought against her by the Federal Government, accusing her of defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
She arrived in the courtroom with her husband present alongside former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and activist Aisha Yesufu.
According to the charges, the government alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made statements “knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” citing Section 391 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same legislation.
The charge sheet lists both Akpabio and Bello as prosecution witnesses in the trial.
One of the counts stems from an interview in which the Senator accused the Senate President and the former governor of conspiring to eliminate her.
