Suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, was on Thursday docked at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja for allegedly defaming the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adosa Bello.
She was put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) on three-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputations during a television interview.
The suspended senator was accompanied to the court for the trial by her husband and a retinue of sympathisers.
When the charges were read, she pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Upon her denial of the allegations, the Federal Government lawyer, David Kaswe, asked Justice Chizoba Orji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.
However, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, sought and got permission to move the bail application for the defendant on the ground that it was mature for hearing, having already been served on the prosecution.
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“On his part, the Federal Government lawyer made spirited efforts to get the bail application refused, arguing that it took great efforts and difficulties before Natasha could be served with the charge.
However, in her brief ruling, Justice Orji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes Natasha innocent for now.
She admitted her to bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety in the like sum.
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