Natasha Docked Before Federal High Court Abuja On Cybercrime Charges

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan was on Monday docked at the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged Cybercrime against the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio and former governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Adosa Bello.

The suspended Senator was put on trial by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) on a fresh 6-count criminal charges bordering on harmful imputations while making public comments and granting television interviews.

Natasha, who was accompanied by her husband into the court room to answer the charges against her however pleaded not guilty.

The Senate President had in a petition to the Inspector General of Police complained on damages done to his reputation by Natasha on the accusation that he (Akpabio) planned to eliminate her in Kogi state.

Subsequently, on the strength of the investigation by thè police, Senator Natasha was docked for Cybercrime crimes against Akpabio and Yahaya Bello by the Federal Government through the AGF’s office on a six-count criminal charge against her before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The allegations in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 are rooted in cybercrime provisions, revolving around her alleged transmission of false and injurious information via electronic means allegedly calculated to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.

Among the particulars of the charge are claims that Natasha while addressing a gathering on April 4th 2025 in Ihima, alleged that Senator Akpabio instructed Bello to have her eliminated in Kogi State.

Similarly, in a television interview, she allegedly repeated this narrative, suggesting a murderous conspiracy against her life by Akpabio and Yahaya Bello.

Following her plea of not guilty, the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar asked Mohammed Umar for a date to commence trial.

However, Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru SAN got permission to move the bail application for the defendant and
in moving the bail, he urged the Judge to exercise his discretion in favor of Natasha.

He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight risk and would not interfere with police investigation and witnesses hence submitted that the Constitution of the Country presumed her innocent while the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 emphasized bail in such an offence.

The DPPF admitted receiving the motion and that he did not file a counter affidavit against the request but urged the court to grant bail in such a way that will compel the Senator to attend trial.

Having not opposed, the judge admitted Natasha to bail on self recognizance and subsequently fixed September 22 for commencement of trial.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji