By Austin Ogwuda
… gets N50m bail as Court adjourns trial to September 23
A Federal High Court, Abuja, Nigeria, presided over by Justice Chizoba Orji has rejected Federal Government application seeking to get Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the criminal charge preferred against her
Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan was Thursday morning arraigned before the Court on a three-count for allegedly making a false claim that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello were behind plot to assassinate her.
When plea was taken she pleaded not guilty.
Justice Orji held that she found no reason to deny the defendant (Natasha) bail as canvassed by the Federal government’s legal team, saying there was sufficient evidence that she is willing to face her trial.
She was consequently granted bail to the tune of N50m in which she must produce one surety who must be a person of integrity that owns a landed property in Abuja.
The court based its decision on section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as Amended, as well as Section 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The charge marked: CR/297/25, FG alleged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was listed as the sole defendant, made the false and defamatory remarks when she appeared as guest on live television making “imputation, knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”.
.… Natasha’s husband, former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Aisha Yesufu, others storm the Court room in solidarity
Ex-Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who repeatedly rose in public defence of the embattled female lawmaker, was joined in the courtroom by other notable rights activists, including Aisha Yesufu.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan entered the court premises which had been beefed up with armed security operatives, in the company of her husband and lawyers at about 10.27 am to face the arraignment.
*Courtesy : Vanguard and Leadership
