Taiwo Popoola
A civil society organisation, Coalition Against Impunity, has described the trial of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as “a trial of integrity in Nigerian politics.”
The suspended senator is being tried by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, on a six-count criminal charge bordering on harmful imputations while making public comments and granting a television interview.
The alleged offences concern her allegations that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, planned to assassinate her.
urban Express News Online reports that Natasha was on Monday docked at the Federal High Court in Abuja in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 for alleged offences bordering on cybercrime, revolving around alleged transmission of false and injurious information via electronic means, calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.
The Kogi Central senator was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Umar, who subsequently fixed September 22, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday, the Coalition Against Impunity stressed that the trial has presented an opportunity to put an end to the politics of lies in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Olufemi Ayoade, in Abuja on Monday, described Natasha’s allegations as a reckless abuse of the trust of the Nigerian people by portraying national leaders as criminals without any evidence.
Ayoade said in the statement, “This is not just a trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan; it is a trial of integrity in Nigerian politics. And when the dust settles, let it be known that those who lie to the nation, incite false alarms and drag the reputation of others through the mud will be held accountable. The truth is sacred. Justice must prevail.
“It is no coincidence that these allegations emerged at the height of political tensions, a classic script from the playbook of a desperate politician who mistakes media popularity for credibility. But lies, no matter how loud, eventually collapse under the weight of truth.
“Today marks a defining moment in the fight against reckless political propaganda and the weaponisation of falsehood for personal and political gain. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is set to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja in a case instituted by a petition from the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the false and dangerous claim she made, alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello attempted to assassinate her.
“As the court proceeds today, the Nigerian people must pay close attention. The era where politicians make outlandish claims without consequence must end. The law must take its full course, not just to serve justice to the individuals maligned by her false accusations, but to send a strong message that politics must not be reduced to character assassination and malicious lies.”
