Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been arraigned by the Federal Government on allegations of cybercrime against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Kogi Central lawmaker appeared before Justice Mohammed Umar at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge.
Her lawyer, Roland Otaru, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked the court to grant her bail on self-recognition, stating that she is a sitting senator and a senior member of the legal profession. He also noted that the prosecution had not filed any counter affidavit against the bail request.
Justice Umar granted her bail on self-recognition and adjourned the trial to September 22, 2025.
Senator Natasha was accompanied to the court by her husband, Emmanuel Uduaghan, activist Aisha Yesufu, and several supporters.
This is the second time in two weeks that the lawmaker has been arraigned. On June 19, she was brought before the FCT High Court on charges of alleged defamation.
During the last court appearance, the judge refused the Federal Government’s request to arrest her after their counsel admitted that the charge sheet had only been served to her lawyer that same morning.
According to the current charge, the senator is accused of making statements on a live TV programme where she claimed that Akpabio and Bello were plotting to kill her.
The case was filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
