A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, during her second arraignment over a defamation case.
The court allowed her to go on bail based solely on her personal promise to return for trial, without requiring any financial or legal surety.
The defamation case was filed against her by the Federal Government, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello named as complainants.
Natasha appeared in court alongside her husband, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, and popular human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, along with many other supporters.
Earlier, the Federal Government had asked the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest, claiming she had been served with the charges.
However, Justice Musa Umar dismissed the request, explaining that Natasha had not received any formal notice or court papers before the hearing.
The prosecution only handed the documents to her lawyer inside the courtroom that same morning.
The judge ruled that it was unreasonable to expect her to appear in court without prior notice and, therefore, refused to issue an arrest warrant.
