The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, will on Monday, September 22, 2025, face trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged cybercrime offences against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
Naijaonpoint reports that the trial follows a six-count criminal charge coordinated by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30, 2025, where she pleaded not guilty after charges bordering on the alleged circulation of false and injurious information via electronic means were read to her.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, the Senator is accused of making electronic communications intended to malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.
One of the counts accused her of alleging at a public gathering in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area, on April 1, 2025, that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her assassinated in Kogi State so it would appear as though it was carried out by locals.
She allegedly repeated the claim in a television interview, suggesting a conspiracy by the two leaders against her life.
The trial will be presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, with the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, leading the Federal Government’s case.
On the other hand, Akpoti-Uduaghan will be defended by a team led by Professor Roland Otaru (SAN).
The case followed a petition by Senate President Akpabio to the Inspector General of Police, in which he alleged reputational damage from Natasha’s comments.
Police investigations reportedly linked the matter to cybercrime provisions, prompting the Federal Government’s decision to prosecute.
When arraigned in June, the suspended Senator was granted bail on self-recognizance after the DPPF raised no objection.
In his ruling, Justice Umar said the constitution presumed her innocent until proven guilty. He noted that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, bail was standard in such cases.
Otaru had argued that Natasha was not a flight risk and would not interfere with witnesses or police investigations.
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