Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan, the suspended senator from the Kogi Central Senatorial District, was granted bail on self-recognition by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
Akpoti-Udauaghan was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on reported cybercrime.
She entered a not guilty plea to all of the charges once they were read to her.
The senator is accused of making untrue and defamatory remarks about former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
According to the charge, Akpoti-Udauaghan was alleged to have said, “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.”
Days later, during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, she reiterated the allegations, asserting: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”
These widely circulated statements on digital media were knowingly false and meant to provoke disturbance, according to the Federal Government.
The FG further contended that the remarks violate “Section 24(2)(c)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional spread of false information to damage reputations or provoke public disorder.
While applying for bail, Akpoti-Udauaghan’s legal team, led by Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), requested that she be granted bail on self-recognition being a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a senior member of the bar.
He added that there is no counter-affidavit from the prosecution, challenging the bail application.
Justice Mohammed Umar proceeded to grant the request of the defence counsel and granted the senator bail on self-recognisance.
The court adjourned until September 22, for the commencement of trial.
