Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central, has been charged by the federal government in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The female senator was charged on Monday on six counts that allegedly defamed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
After the senator from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) entered a not guilty plea, Justice Mohammed Umar released her on self-recognition bond.
According to reports, the defendant claimed that several politicians who disagreed with her were planning to kill her.
According to the Federal Government, Natasha committed the alleged offense on April 3 during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today and while speaking to her fans in Kogi State.
She was especially charged with identifying former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio as attendees of the meeting where the plan to assassinate her was conceived.
According to the FG, the defendant demanded that Bello and Akpabio concur that she should be killed in Kogi State in a way that would seem to be a mob action.
She was accused of making false imputations that she knew would harm the reputation of both Senator Akpabio and ex-Governor Bello, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime Act.
Meanwhile, the defendant pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to her before trial Justice Muhammed Umar.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, told the court that he did not file any process to challenge her release on bail.
The DPPF, however, urged the court to exercise its discretion and impose conditions that would guarantee the presence of the defendant to face her trial.
On his part, counsel to the defendant, Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN, told the court that he filed a bail application on June 20.
Professor Otaru, SAN, reminded the court that his client does not represent a flight risk and will be available for her trial. However, he also pointed out that she is representing a constituency that includes five Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Furthermore, he pointed out to the judge that the defendant is a senior member of the legal profession and that an Abuja High Court had previously granted her bail on a similar case.
Justice Umar stated that he was inclined to grant the offender bail upon self-recognition after hearing both arguments.
The defendant is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, according to the trial judge, who also stated that the charges against her included offenses that may be released on bond.
After that, he postponed the hearing until September 22.
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