Judiciary Shutdown Pauses Trial Over Assassination, Organ Harvesting Claims

A nationwide strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has forced the postponement of the scheduled court appearance of suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a case loaded with explosive allegations.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was expected in court on Tuesday to answer to criminal defamation charges filed by the Federal Government. However, the JUSUN strike, which began Monday, effectively shut down court proceedings nationwide, halting the high-profile case.

Her lead counsel, West Idahosa (SAN), confirmed the delay and noted that while his client is committed to complying with court directives, he had expressed doubts about the Federal Government’s willingness to move forward with the arraignment.

Filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court (Charge No. CR/297/25), the charges accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory and dangerous claims during a live TV appearance and a private phone conversation.

In an interview on Politics Today (Channels TV) aired April 3, she allegedly stated that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had discussed a plot 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.

Additionally, prosecutors claim she told Dr. Sandra Duru in a phone call that Akpabio was involved in an organ harvesting operation linked to the late Iniubong Umoren, supposedly for the benefit of his ailing wife.

The Federal Government is pressing ahead with the charges, naming both Akpabio and Bello—alongside four others—as key witnesses.

For now, the trial is on hold as Nigeria’s courtrooms remain locked due to the industrial action. No new date has been set.