Senator’s Organ Harvesting Allegations Trigger Criminal Suit
Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, is slated to appear in court on Tuesday, June 4, 2025. The appearance follows a summons issued by the Federal Government in connection with alleged criminal defamation charges.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead lawyer, West Idahosa, SAN, confirmed her upcoming court date in a statement released Sunday. He emphasized the senator’s firm commitment to abiding by the law, regardless of the government’s actions.
“Our client is a law-abiding citizen and will honor the court’s directives, whatever the Federal Government’s plans might be,” Idahosa said.
The Federal Government, represented by Director of Public Prosecutions Mohammed Abubakar, has filed a criminal suit accusing the senator of making defamatory remarks during a live TV interview and a private phone call. The allegations claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan targeted Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge sheet filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court (case number CR/297/25), Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly accused Akpabio and Bello of conspiring to assassinate her. This statement was made during an April 3, 2025, interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
The charges quote her as saying, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night — to eliminate me… he then emphasized that I should be killed in Kogi.”
In a separate count, the senator is accused of making further defamatory claims in a March 27, 2025, phone conversation with a woman identified as Dr. Sandra Duru. Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly accused Akpabio of involvement in organ harvesting linked to the death of Iniubong Umoren, supposedly benefiting his ailing wife.
Key witnesses for the trial include Akpabio, Bello, and four others.
When questioned about the possibility of arraignment on Tuesday, Idahosa expressed uncertainty, noting that the prosecution has already amended the charges once and may do so again.
“We don’t know. We saw a notice of amended charges. It’s their decision,” he said.
Idahosa assured that the senator’s legal team is fully prepared to defend her, stating, “If the case is called tomorrow, we will respond accordingly. Our focus is on contesting the charges. Protests are irrelevant to us; that’s for civil society. As lawyers, we will do our duty in court.”
He firmly dismissed any notion that Akpoti-Uduaghan might avoid the court appearance. “Our client respects court orders. Only institutions disregard the judiciary. She is not in that category,” he stressed.
