By Parrot Newspaper 
Judiciary Strike Halts Natasha Arraignment on Defamation Charges
By Ricky Awodi| June 4, 2025
A nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Tuesday stalled the scheduled arraignment of suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is facing defamation charges filed by the Federal Government.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, was due to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on June 3. However, courtrooms across the FCT were shuttered following the commencement of the industrial action on Monday, disrupting judicial proceedings nationwide.
The embattled senator is accused of defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The charges, filed under sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code, stem from remarks she allegedly made both publicly and privately, which the government says were criminally defamatory.
According to court documents in suit CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan made the contentious statements during an appearance on Politics Today, a live Channels TV programme aired on April 3, 2025. In the interview, she claimed both Akpabio and Bello had discussed 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 sheet quoted her as saying.
Further, the prosecution alleges that during a private phone call on March 27 with one Dr Sandra Duru, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of being involved in the alleged organ harvesting of the late Iniubong Umoren to benefit his ailing wife.
Her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria West Idahosa, said the senator is ready to face trial.
“Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there?” Idahosa told media. “Only disrespectful institutions that disregard court orders would fail to appear, and she is not in that category.”
Although the judiciary strike has since been suspended following intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, a new date for Akpoti-Uduaghan’s arraignment is yet to be fixed.
The case has already ignited national conversation, highlighting tensions between political power players and raising concerns about free speech and the criminalisation of dissent.