Senator Natasha Reacts To Fresh Charges By Nigerian Govt, Denies Wrongdoing, Set For Court Appearance
Senator Natasha Reacts To Fresh Charges By Nigerian Govt, Denies Wrongdoing, Set For Court Appearance
According to the senator, she first learned of the charges via social media and immediately instructed her lawyer, J.J. Usman, SAN, to verify and receive court processes on her behalf.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has revealed that the Nigerian government has filed two separate criminal charges against her, following petitions reportedly submitted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
In a statement posted on her verified Facebook page on Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed the cases.
According to the senator, she first learned of the charges via social media and immediately instructed her lawyer, J.J. Usman, SAN, to verify and receive court processes on her behalf.
She noted that Usman was served the charges at 9:18am on Monday.
Despite this, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the prosecuting counsel sought a bench warrant for her arrest, which her legal team vehemently opposed.
The court reportedly declined to issue the warrant, recognising that she had only just been served with the charges.
The cases come amid heightened political tensions in Kogi State and within the national legislature, where Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension had earlier stirred controversy.
She said, “Pursuant to petitions from Senator Godswill Akpabio and Ex Governor Yahaya Bello, the Federal Government of Nigeria has filed two separate charges against me ;
“Case 1: CHARGE NO:FCT/CR/297/2025 BETWEEN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA vs Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory coming up on the 19th June 2025 for arraignment.
“Case 2: CHARGE NO:FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 BETWEEN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA vs Senator Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan in the Federal High Court coming up on 30th June 2025 for arraignment.”
According to the suspended Senator, “Without being served with the charge, but upon reading on social media of the pendency of the case, I sent my Lawyer J.J Usman , SAN to court to receive the charge on my behalf so we can appear in Court.
“Today, My Counsel was served at 9:18am paving way for my appearance on the next date. Suddenly, the Prosecuting Counsel thereafter applied for bench warrant against me, which my Counsel stiffly opposed.
“Gratefully, the court rejected the bench warrant for my arrest as I was made aware of the 2nd case only today having received service at 9:18am this morning.
“As a law abiding citizen, I shall be in court for my arraignment on the 19th of June 2025 at 11am before the FCT High Court and also on the 30th of June 2025 for the second arraignment accordingly,” she added.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian government filed a six-count charge bordering on cyber bullying and defamation against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Travel guides for Nigeria
The charges stem from alleged defamatory remarks made by the senator against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge sheet, SaharaReporters obtained on Monday, marked Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25 between Federal Republic of Nigeria as Complainant and Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan as Defendant, the embattled Senator is accused of intentionally transmitting false information via computer systems and networks, which could harm the reputations of Akpabio and Bello.
The alleged remarks were made during a public address on April 1, 2025, and a live studio interview on Channels TV on April 3, 2025.
According to the charge sheet, the senator allegedly claimed that Akpabio and Bello discussed plans to eliminate her, with Akpabio purportedly instructing Bello to ensure her killing took place in Kogi State to make it appear like a local incident.
Nigerian Government Files New Six-Count Cyberbullying Charge Against Senator Natasha
Jun 16, 2025
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Nigerian Government Files New Six-Count Cyberbullying Charge Against Senator Natasha
The charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan include cyberstalking, defamation, and causing a breakdown of law and order. If convicted, she could face penalties under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The Federal Government had in May filed a three-count criminal charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for allegedly defaming Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charges, brought through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, are contained in suit number CR/1277/25 and are pending before Justice C.N. Oji at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Filed by the Department of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General, the suit accuses Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making statements intended to harm reputations, in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 392.
The first count focuses on an interview the Senator granted on Channels Television’s political programme Politics Today on April 3, 2025, where she alleged that Senate President Akpabio, in concert with Yahaya Bello, plotted to assassinate her.
During the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, ehm… to eliminate me.”
Meanwhile, in the six-count charge bordering on cyberstalking filed by Abubakar Mohammed Babadoko, a Director, in the Department of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making statements that could harm the reputation of Akpabio and Bello.
The case has sparked widespread interest, given the high-profile nature of the parties involved. The outcome will be closely watched, particularly in light of ongoing debates about free speech and the limits of political discourse in Nigeria.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticised the charges, describing them as unconstitutional and a violation of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to freedom of expression.
“The attempt to criminalise criticism of public office holders is not only outdated but unlawful under Nigeria’s democratic framework,” Falana said.
Falana further argued that public office holders should seek redress through civil libel actions rather than resorting to criminal charges, stressing that such legal measures undermine democratic freedoms and stifle open discourse.
“Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism. Where a writer exceeds the bounds, there should be a resort to the law of libel where the plaintiff must of necessity put his character and reputation in issue,” he said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, West Idahosa, SAN, has expressed readiness to defend her in court, describing her as a law-abiding citizen. “Our client is a law-abiding citizen. Why wouldn’t she be there? It’s a summons we have undertaken,” Idahosa said.
