By Sunday Ani
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 brought by the Federal Government on behalf of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The date, initially set for June 3, was adjourned following 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, believed by many observers to be politically motivated, stems from claims advanced by Akpabio and Bello, with controversial figures such as Ms. Sandra Duru listed as key witnesses. Duru, who is reportedly a fugitive from justice with a 2017 arrest warrant over alleged N10 million fraud and threats to life, is now being positioned by the Federal Government as a star witness against Natasha. Legal experts and civic groups have described this as a stain on Nigeria’s judicial integrity.
Public outrage deepened following revelations by Ken Okolugbo, 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 meetings with Duru and others in London aimed at fabricating evidence to malign the senator. His subsequent claim that his account was hacked has been met with widespread skepticism.
Further complicating the case, media activist Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike was arrested at 3am in Owerri on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. Obinna had gone public in an interview on Adeola Fayehun’s platform, alleging that he was paid ₦2.5 million by Duru to produce defamatory content against Natasha, and linking Akpabio to the scheme. His arrest has been seen by critics as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices and shield high-level political actors from scrutiny.
The looming court date places the spotlight on what many have termed a legal charade designed to persecute Senator Natasha, who has consistently maintained her innocence and described the allegations as baseless. Analysts say the involvement of tainted witnesses and the arrest of whistleblowers, further damage the credibility of the prosecution and raise serious questions about abuse of judicial processes.
As the June 19 arraignment approaches, Nigerians and the international community will be watching closely. The senator has expressed confidence that the truth would prevail, even as civic groups continue to demand that the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police explain why a fugitive like Duru is being shielded from arrest while being used to prosecute a sitting senator.