Court Grants Senator Natasha Akpoti Bail On Self-Recognition

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail on self-recognition to suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on a six-count charge related to alleged cybercrime. After the charges were read, she pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The charges stem from statements the senator allegedly made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. According to the prosecution, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio instructed Bello to ensure her assassination occurred in Kogi, not Abuja, to make it appear as a local incident.

One of the statements cited in the charge reads, “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 reportedly repeated the allegations days later during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, saying, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”

The federal government alleges that these statements, widely circulated online, were knowingly false and intended to incite public unrest. The prosecution contends the remarks violate Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits the intentional spread of false information likely to harm reputations or provoke disorder.

During the bail hearing, lead defence counsel, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), requested that the senator be granted bail on self-recognition, citing her status as a sitting senator and senior legal practitioner. He also noted that the prosecution had not filed a counter-affidavit opposing the application.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the request, allowing Akpoti-Uduaghan bail on self-recognition. The case was adjourned until September 22 for the commencement of the trial.