The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, fixed September 22, 2025, as the date to begin the trial of Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan, the suspended senator from Kogi Central, over alleged cybercrime charges.
The development followed her arraignment on six separate counts linked to alleged cyber-related offenses. When the charges were read before Justice Mohammed Umar, Akpoti-Udauaghan pleaded not guilty. After her plea, the court allowed her to go on bail based on her status, granting her freedom on self-recognition.
The case, with the number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, was brought forward by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Abubakar. The accusations against the senator relate to comments she allegedly made about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The court document claims she made damaging and untrue statements, suggesting that Akpabio told Bello to ensure her death appeared as if caused by people in Kogi, not Abuja.
The charge further states that in a televised interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, she repeated the claims by saying: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”
According to the Federal Government, these statements were shared through electronic means with the intention of causing harm, spreading panic, and disrupting public peace. They added that the comments fall under “Section 24(2)(c)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalizes spreading false information meant to hurt someone’s reputation or create public disorder.
This is not Akpoti-Udauaghan’s first legal encounter over similar issues. Just two weeks before, on June 19, she faced a separate arraignment on defamation-related charges before Justice Chizoba Orji of the FCT High Court in Maitama. In that case as well, she entered a not guilty plea. The Attorney General had accused her of defaming both Akpabio and Bello.
During that earlier hearing, the court granted her bail under stricter terms—N50 million with one surety who must live in Abuja and own property within the city.
Regarding the current charge, her arraignment was initially scheduled for June 16, but she did not attend court on that day. Government lawyer David Kaswe asked the court to issue an arrest warrant. However, Justice Umar refused, pointing out that the senator had not been properly served with the case file or hearing notice at that time.
At Monday’s appearance, Akpoti-Udauaghan stood before the court and entered her plea. Her lead counsel, Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN), asked for bail, saying she was not a flight risk and had already been granted bail in a related matter. He noted she represents five local government areas in Kogi State and is a respected lawyer and senator.
The prosecution said they had not filed any objection to the bail request. The court was told there was no formal opposition from their side.
Justice Umar, in his ruling, noted that the senator remained a member of the National Assembly and that the charges were not of a nature that demanded detention. Based on these reasons, he agreed to grant bail on self-recognition and allowed her to remain free pending trial.
