Strike Delays Arraignment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
A strike action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has stalled the arraignment of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court. The strike, which began on Monday, has resulted in the closure of most courts, including all FCT high courts.
Arraignment Stalled Due to Judiciary Workers’ Strike
Akpoti-Uduaghan was scheduled to appear before the FCT High Court on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, to face a criminal charge filed by the Federal Government. The charge accuses her of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charge (marked CR/297/25) alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made criminal imputations during a live broadcast and a private phone conversation, which damaged the reputations of both Akpabio and Bello.
Key Allegations Against Akpoti-Uduaghan
One of the central allegations stems from a statement made by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 3, 2025, during a live interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme. In the interview, she claimed that Akpabio and Bello had discussed plans to assassinate her.
The charge quotes her as saying:
“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.”
Another allegation involves a phone conversation on March 27, 2025, where Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly told Dr. Sandra Duru that Akpabio was linked to the organ harvesting of the late Iniubong Umoren for his ailing wife.
Legal Framework and Charges
The Federal Government has charged Akpoti-Uduaghan under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, which pertain to defamation and criminal harm to reputation.
Her legal representative, West Idahosa (SAN), had earlier confirmed that the senator was prepared to appear in court to address the charges. He noted:
“Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken. Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.”
Strike Called Off, Awaiting New Arraignment Date
Although the strike by the judiciary workers has now been called off, the suspended senator’s arraignment has been delayed. A new date is yet to be set for the hearing.
