Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confirms arrest plot

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has confirmed that the Federal Government is moving to arrest her following criminal defamation charges filed by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under the Ministry of Justice.

The matter came up on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where government prosecutors requested a bench warrant for her arrest. However, Justice M.G. Umar declined the request, citing improper service of the charges.

According to the judge, the prosecution failed to give adequate notice, as the charge was only handed to Senator Natasha’s lawyer minutes before the court session began. He questioned how the senator could have reasonably been expected to appear without formal notification.

The case stems from a controversial interview Natasha granted on April 3, during a political programme on Channels Television, where she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her.

Confirming the legal action on her verified social media page, Natasha disclosed that two separate charges have been filed against her:

FCT/CR/297/2025, which is scheduled for June 19, 2025, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, and

FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, set for June 30, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

She clarified that she was not served the charges beforehand, but her legal counsel, J.J. Usman (SAN), received them in court at exactly 9:18 a.m. on Monday. Despite this, the prosecution still moved for her arrest—a request the court dismissed.

Senator Natasha reaffirmed her readiness to appear in court on the scheduled dates and assured the public of her cooperation with legal proceedings.

The lawmaker is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate, though she maintains that the legal battle is politically motivated.