The trial of suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on defamation charges has been postponed due to the nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which began on Monday.
Emerging reports noted that the embattled senator was scheduled to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday, but the court session was cancelled as a result of the ongoing industrial action.
Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the delay and attributed it to the strike, while emphasizing that Akpoti-Uduaghan remains fully committed to following all legal procedures.
The federal government, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, filed criminal defamation charges against the senator on May 16, 2025. She is accused of making damaging statements about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charges, under suit number CR/297/25, are based on comments allegedly made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television, aired on April 3, 2025.
During the programme, she reportedly mentioned that the Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had had a meeting to discuss subtle plans on her elimination in Kogi State.
Prosecutors also allege that in a private phone call with Dr. Sandra Duru, the senator accused Akpabio of being involved in organ harvesting linked to the late Iniubong Umoren, allegedly for the benefit of Akpabioโs ill wife.
Akpabio, Yahaya Bello, and four unnamed individuals are listed as key witnesses in the case.
With courts nationwide closed due to the JUSUN strike, a new date for the trial has not been announced.
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