The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on self-recognition.
The senator was arraigned on a six-count charge related to alleged cybercrime.
After the charges were read, she pleaded not guilty.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making false and injurious claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to the prosecution, she allegedly stated, “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.”
She reportedly repeated the claim during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, saying, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”
The Federal Government contended that these comments, which were widely circulated online, were deliberately false and capable of inciting public unrest.
It further alleged that the statements violated Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits spreading false information with the intent to harm reputations or cause disorder.
Her lead counsel, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), urged the court to grant her bail on self-recognition, noting her status as a senator and a senior legal practitioner.
He also pointed out that the prosecution did not file any objection to the bail application.
Justice Mohammed Umar accepted the request and granted bail on self-recognition. The case was adjourned until September 22 for the start of trial.