JUSUN Strike Stalls Natasha’s Alleged Defamation Trial

The industrial action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), has delayed the hearing on the case against suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The senator was scheduled to appear before the court on Tuesday, but could not be present in court due to the ongoing strike by JUSUN which commenced on Monday.

Her lead Counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the development.

However, Idahosa had earlier expressed uncertainty about the willingness of the federal government to arraign the suspended lawmaker as scheduled.

He maintained that as a law-abiding citizen, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan would comply with the court’s directives.

The federal government had through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging that she made defamatory statements during a live television broadcast and a private telephone conversation.

These statements reportedly targeted the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

According to the charge which was filed on May 16, 2025, at a Federal Capital Territory High Court and marked CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan, is accused of making a statement during an appearance on ‘Politics Today’ on Channels TV on April 3, 2025, where she allegedly accused Akpabio and Bello of discussing plans to assassinate her.

“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night— to eliminate me… he then emphasised that I should be killed in Kogi,” the charge quotes her as saying.

The charge also claimed that in the conversation with a woman named Dr Sandra Duru, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly claimed that Akpabio was linked to organ harvesting involving the late Iniubong Umoren, purportedly for the benefit of his ailing wife.

Akpabio, Bello, and four others have been listed as key witnesses in the trial.