Natasha’s Cybercrime Trial Involving Akpabio, Yahaya Bello Set for September 22

The trial of suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on a six-count charge of alleged cybercrime against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is set to begin on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, is being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, with the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, leading the Federal Government’s team. Presiding over the trial will be Justice Mohammed Umar.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate six months ago over an alleged breach of parliamentary rules, was arraigned on June 30, 2025, where she pleaded not guilty to all charges. She was granted bail on self-recognizance, as the prosecution did not oppose the application.

The charges stem from statements allegedly made by the senator at a public gathering on April 1, 2025, in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, and repeated during a subsequent television interview. According to the prosecution, Senator Natasha claimed that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her assassinated, stating that the killing should occur in Kogi to make it appear as a local act, rather than one planned in Abuja.

These allegations were first brought to light following a petition by Senate President Akpabio to the Inspector General of Police, prompting an investigation. Following the probe, the charges were filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Key Allegations

The prosecution alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan used electronic communication to transmit false and injurious claims, intended to incite the public, damage reputations, and potentially endanger lives.

• Count One specifically accuses her of making defamatory statements against Senator Godswill Akpabio, in violation of Section 24 (2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act.

• Count Two mirrors the allegation, this time focusing on former Governor Yahaya Bello as the targeted victim.

In both counts, the statements are cited as: “…and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here…”

The prosecution asserts that these remarks were knowingly transmitted via electronic platforms and were likely to incite public unrest and harm the reputations of the named individuals.

Defence and Trial Outlook

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defense is led by Professor Roland Otaru, SAN, who argued during the bail hearing that the senator is not a flight risk, poses no threat to the investigation or witnesses, and should benefit from the constitutional presumption of innocence. He also emphasized the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which favors granting bail for such offences.

The trial, which opens on September 22, will test the intersection of political speech, public accountability, and Nigeria’s expanding cybercrime laws. With both political and legal implications, it is expected to draw significant national attention.