Court Grants Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan N50 Million Bail Over Cybercrime, Defamation Charges

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the sum of N50 million after she was arraigned on cybercrime and defamation charges brought by the federal government.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case on Thursday, also ordered the senator to provide two sureties, each of whom must deposit N50 million and own property within Abuja. Additionally, Uduaghan is barred from travelling outside Nigeria without the court’s approval.

The senator, who represents Kogi Central, pleaded not guilty to all six charges. The trial was adjourned until September 23.

The charges stem from her comments during a television appearance on April 3, where she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating assassination attempts against her.

Both Akpabio and Bello were named as nominal complainants and are among the witnesses expected to testify, along with Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong, Sandra Duru, and two police officers, Maya Iliya and Abdulhafiz Garba, who investigated the matter.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, female, adult, on or about the 3rd of April 2025, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally transmit through your Instagram handle, offensive and false statements to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred and needless anxiety to the person of Senator Godswill Akpabio… contrary and punishable under Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015.”

Another count accuses her of a similar offence against Yahaya Bello, alleging intent to cause him harm.

The senator had missed a previous court appearance on June 16, leading prosecutors to request a bench warrant. However, the court declined, opting instead to allow substituted service through her legal counsel.

Her lawyer, Johnson Usman, told the court she was present and ready to enter her plea. “We plead for bail. She is a serving senator. She has never been convicted and she is ready to appear for trial,” he said.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail but urged the court to ensure she remains available throughout the proceedings.

Uduaghan made headlines earlier this year after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment during a private meeting in his office. She claimed he attempted to kiss her and later threatened her political future when she resisted. The Senate responded by suspending her for six months over what it called “unparliamentary conduct.” She has since filed a lawsuit challenging the suspension, vowing not to be silenced.

Many observers view the current charges as part of a deepening political rift between Uduaghan and Akpabio, who has denied all her allegations.

Elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, Uduaghan is the first woman to represent Kogi Central in the Senate.