Abuja: The Federal Government on Monday arraigned Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged cyber bullying and defamation involving the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello. The suspended senator faced a six-count charge related to making inciting public and televised statements, which allegedly amounted to cyber bullying and defamation. Accompanied by her husband, Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the charges were filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation following a petition from Akpabio to the Inspector-General of Police. Akpabio alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan damaged his reputation by accusing him of plotting to eliminate her in Kogi. The charges, marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, are alleged to contravene Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act.
The allegations claim that Akpoti-Uduaghan transmitted false and injurious information via electronic means, intending to malign, incite, and endanger lives, thereby breaching public order. Specifically, she was accused of addressing a gathering on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi, claiming that Akpabio instructed Bello to eliminate her. Additionally, she purportedly reiterated these allegations during a television interview, suggesting a conspiracy to stage her murder in Kogi to implicate her community.
Following her not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel Mr. Mohammed Abubakar requested a trial date to begin proceedings and present witnesses. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN, applied for bail on self-recognition, arguing that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with investigations or witnesses. The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted bail on self-recognition and scheduled the trial to commence on September 22. Previously, the court had denied a government application for a bench warrant against Akpoti-Uduaghan, as her lawyer argued that the application was inappropriate given the circumstances of service.