Africa-Press – Nigeria. By Kayode Lawal
Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was on Monday docked at the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged cybercrime against the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The suspended senator was put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, on fresh 6-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputations while making public comments and granting a television interview.
Natasha, who was accompanied by her husband into the courtroom to answer the charges against her, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Senate President had in a petition to the Inspector General of Police complained about damages done to his reputation by Natasha on the accusation that he (Akpabio) planned to eliminate her in Kogi State.
Subsequently, and on the strength of the investigation by police, Senator Natasha was docked for cybercrime against Akpabio and Yahaya Bello.
The Federal Government through the AGF’s office preferred a six-count criminal charge against her before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The allegations in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, are rooted in cybercrime provisions and revolve around her alleged transmission of false and injurious information via electronic means allegedly calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.
Among the particulars of the charge are claims that Natasha, while addressing a gathering on April 4th, 2025, in Ihima, alleged that Senator Akpabio instructed Bello to have her eliminated in Kogi State.
Similarly, in a television interview, she allegedly repeated this narrative, suggesting a murderous conspiracy against her life by Akpabio and Yahaya Bello.
Following her plea of not guilty, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Mohammed Abubakar, asked Justice Mohammed Umar for a date to commence trial.
However, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru SAN, got permission to move a bail application for the defendant.
In moving the bail application, the professor of law urged the judge to exercise his discretion in favor of Natasha.
He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.
Besides, he submitted that the Constitution of the country presumed her innocent while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasized bail in such an offence.
The DPPF admitted receiving the motion and that he did not file a counter-affidavit against the request but urged the court to grant bail in such a way that would compel the senator to attend trial.
Having not opposed, the judge admitted Natasha to bail on self-recognisance.
He subsequently fixed September 22 for commencement of trial.
Part of the charges are:
“That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you — SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘…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…’ And you, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same Act.”
Count Two:
“That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you — SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘…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…’ And you, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
Source:dailypost
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