The trial of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on alleged cybercrime against Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and a former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello will commence on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The trial on a six-count criminal charge is being coordinated by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister of Justice.
Suspended from the Senate six months ago over alleged breach of Senate’s rules, Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned in court on 30 June 2025, when charges were read to her and she pleaded not guilty.
Justice Mohammed Umar is to adjudicate over the trial with the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar billed to lead the prosecution for the Federal Government.
A Professor of Law, Roland Otaru, who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is expected to lead the defence team for the suspended lawmaker.
In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Akpabio had complained about damages allegedly done to his reputation by Natasha on the accusation that he planned to assassinate her in Kogi State.
On the strength of the investigation by the police, Akpoti-Uduaghan was docked for cybercrime against Akpabio and Bello on 30 June 2025.
The allegations in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, are rooted in cybercrime provisions and revolved around Akpoti-Uduaghan making false and injurious information via electronic means, allegedly calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.
Among the particulars of the charge are claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan, while addressing a gathering on 4 April 2025, in Ihima, Okehi local government area of Kogi State, alleged that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her assassinated.
Similarly, in a television interview, the senator allegedly repeated the narrative, suggesting a murderous conspiracy against her life by Akpabio and Bello.
However, following her not guilty plea and the DPPF not objecting to her bail, Justice Umar admitted the senator to bail on self recognition.
The judge had also fixed 22 September for commencement of trial.
Otaru, who argued Akpoti-Uduaghan’s bail application, had submitted that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses.
He had also argued that the country’s constitution presumed her innocent while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, emphasised bail in such an offence.
Count one of the charge reads: ‘That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you — SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: “…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…” And you, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same Act’.
Count Two: ‘That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you — SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: “…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…” And you, SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN, knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same section of the Act’.
