Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count criminal charge bordering on alleged cybercrime offences against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The case, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), accused Senator Natasha of making harmful and injurious statements during a public speech and a televised interview comments allegedly intended to damage reputations and incite public unrest.
Natasha, who appeared in court alongside her husband, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her arraignment followed a petition by Senator Akpabio to the Inspector-General of Police, in which he alleged that she accused him of conspiring with Bello to assassinate her in Kogi State.
Following police investigations, the AGF’s office filed a formal charge — Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 — rooted in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. The charges center on allegedly false and defamatory electronic communications.
One of the charges claims that on April 1, 2025, while addressing a crowd in Ihima, Kogi State, Natasha said:
“…and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here…”
According to the prosecution, this statement was electronically transmitted and calculated to harm the reputation of both Akpabio and Bello thereby violating Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime Act.
After her plea, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, requested a trial date. However, Natasha’s lead counsel, Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, applied for her bail, urged the court to exercise its discretion in her favour, noted that she posed no flight risk and will not interfere with investigations.
Abubakar did not oppose the bail request but urged the court to ensure conditions that would guarantee her presence during trial.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted bail and fixed September 22, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
