ABUJA, Nigeria — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended legislator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, was on Monday, June 30, 2025, arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count cybercrime charge bordering on alleged harmful and injurious online communications against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), stem from allegations that the suspended senator made damaging remarks in public and during a television interview, accusing the two high-profile politicians of plotting to assassinate her in Kogi State.
Natasha, accompanied by her husband, pleaded not guilty to all six charges when they were read to her before Justice Mohammed Umar.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, the Federal Government alleges that Senator Natasha violated Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Specifically, prosecutors say she intentionally transmitted “false and injurious information” through electronic means that could incite, endanger lives, and damage reputations.
One of the charges quotes the senator as saying during a public address on April 1, 2025, in Ihima, Kogi State: “…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…”
This, the prosecution contends, constitutes a criminal cyber communication intended to harm the reputation of Senate President Akpabio and former governor Bello.
The case began after Senate President Akpabio petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging that Senator Natasha’s statements endangered his life and damaged his public standing.
The police subsequently opened an investigation, culminating in the AGF’s office filing the six-count charge.
Following her plea, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, requested a date for trial.
However, Natasha’s lead counsel, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), applied for bail, arguing that the senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with investigations or prosecution witnesses.
Otaru also reminded the court of her constitutional presumption of innocence and cited the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which favours granting bail for the type of charges she faces.
The DPPF did not oppose the bail application and confirmed that no counter affidavit had been filed.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted bail to Senator Natasha and fixed Monday, September 22, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
The six-count charge centres on two main public statements allegedly made by the senator — one at a political gathering in Ihima and the other during a television interview — both of which repeated claims that Akpabio and Bello had conspired to have her killed in Kogi State.
Each count is anchored on provisions of Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime Act, which criminalises transmission of false information via computer networks that may cause harm to others’ reputations or incite public disorder.
