The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan bail on self-recognition.
Natasha was arraigned on six counts of alleged cybercrime.
After being read the charges, she pleaded not guilty to all of them.
The senator allegedly made false and disparaging allegations about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge, Natasha was alleged to have said, “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello… that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja; it should be done in Kogi so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me.”
Days later, during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, she reiterated the allegations, asserting, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”
The federal government said that these claims, widely spread via digital channels, were purposefully false and designed to foment unrest.
The FG further claimed that the remarks violated “Section 24(2)(c)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the deliberate dissemination of false material in order to harm reputations or incite public disorder.
While applying for release, Natasha’s legal team, represented by Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), sought that she be granted bail on self-recognition as a Federal Republic of Nigeria senator and senior member of the bar.
He said that the prosecution has not filed a counter-affidavit disputing the bail application.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted the defence counsel’s request and granted the senator bail based on self-recognition.
The court adjourned the matter to September 22 for the start of the trial.
