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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday to face charges related to alleged cybercrime offences involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was previously suspended from the Senate for six months, is now facing legal proceedings over allegations of fabricating an assassination plot, according to court documents filed under charge number CR/297/25.
The federal government claims that the lawmaker falsely alleged that some political rivals were conspiring to kill her.
These claims were reportedly made during a public address to her supporters in Kogi State, and again on April 3 during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Read also: Court reschedules judgment in Natasha Akpoti’s case against Akpabio to July 4
In the charges, the lawmaker is accused of directly implicating Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in an alleged meeting where plans to assassinate her were discussed.
The prosecution alleges that she asserted the two politicians agreed she should be killed in a manner that would appear to be the result of a mob attack in Kogi State.
The government argues that the accusations were knowingly false and damaging to the reputations of both Akpabio and Bello, constituting a violation of Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime Act, which criminalises the deliberate publication of false information intended to harm another’s character.
At her arraignment, the senator entered a plea of not guilty before Justice Muhammed Umar.
Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, informed the court that he had not submitted any formal objection to her release on bail. However, he requested that the judge set bail conditions that would ensure the defendant remains available throughout the trial.
Meanwhile, the senator’s legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Roland Otaru, stated that a bail application had already been submitted to the court on June 20.
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Roland Otaru, SAN, assured the court that his client posed no risk of fleeing and would be present throughout the proceedings.
He highlighted that she currently serves as the elected representative for a district that encompasses five Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He further reminded the court that an earlier bail had been granted to the defendant by an Abuja High Court on a related matter. He also emphasised her status as a distinguished and experienced legal practitioner.
After considering the submissions from both prosecution and defence, Justice Muhammed Umar stated he was inclined to grant the defendant bail based on her personal recognition.
The judge acknowledged that the defendant is an active member of the Nigerian Senate and noted that the alleged offence is one for which bail is permissible under the law.
The case was then postponed, with the next hearing scheduled for September 22.
