Court grants Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan bail on self-recognisance

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Court Grants Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Bail on Self-Recognisance



The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail on self-recognisance to the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her arraignment on a six-count charge related to alleged cybercrime.

Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all charges after they were read in court. The charges stem from alleged false and defamatory statements she made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

According to the prosecution, the senator was quoted as saying: “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello… that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done in Kogi, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me.” She allegedly repeated this claim during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, stating that it was part of a plan to eliminate her.

The Federal Government, which brought the charges, argued that the statements—widely circulated on digital platforms—were knowingly false and intended to incite public unrest. The government cited a breach of Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits the deliberate spread of false information aimed at damaging reputations or triggering public disorder.

During the bail hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), urged the court to release her on self-recognisance, noting her status as a senator and a senior member of the legal profession. He further pointed out that the prosecution did not file a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the bail application and adjourned the matter to September 22 for the commencement of trial.

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