Natasha Akpoti arraigned on fresh charges over ‘defamation’ of Akpabio, Yahaya Bello

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, has been arraigned on fresh charges for allegedly defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.

The senator arrived the Abuja federal high court on Monday accompanied by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Aisha Yesufu; and her supporters.

She pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge before Mohammed Umar, presiding judge.

The new charge was brought under the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act.

In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan was alleged to have transmitted false and injurious information via electronic means with the intention to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.

Among the details of the charge is the allegation that, while speaking at a gathering on April 4, 2025, in Ihima, Kogi state, she claimed that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her killed in the state.

She was also alleged to have, in a television interview, repeated similar claims, to the effect that the senate president and the former Kogi governor plotted to kill her in her state.

Applying for bail shortly after pleading not-guilty, Roland Otaru, counsel to the the defendant, prayed the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a lawyer.

Following no objection from the prosecution, the judge granted bail to the Kogi senator on self-recognisance.

The case has been adjourned to September 22, 2025 for commencement of trial.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a similar charge before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court.

On June 19, she was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on criminal defamation, with the federal government as the complainant.

The charges were filed on May 16, 2025, in suit number CR/297/25.

She was granted bail in the sum of N50 million and directed to produce one surety, who must be a “person of integrity” and owner of a landed property within Abuja.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 23 for commencement of trial.