The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Udaughan on grounds of self recognisance.
This is coming after the senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district pleaded “not guilty” to the six-count charge bordering on defamation and cyberbullying brought against her by the federal government before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Senator Natasha is accused of making criminal imputation to cause harm to the person of the senate president, Godswill Akpabio and the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
According to the charge, Natasha 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.
The Federal Government stated that these statements, widely disseminated through digital platforms, were in contravention with the provisions of “Section 24(2)(c) and Section 24(1)(b)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional spread of false information to damage reputations or provoke public disorder through digital means.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the charges before the Federal High Court are similar to those at the FCT High Court in Maitama, where the senator pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
The difference between the charges is the provisions under which they were brought
Before the FCT High Court is a three-count charge on defamation and cyberbullying, brought against the senator under the Penal Code, while before the Federal High Court is a six-count charge on defamation and cyberbullying, brought against the senator under the Cybercrimes Act.
While applying for bail, lead counsel to Sen Natasha, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), requested that she be granted bail on self-recognition, being a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a senior member of the bar.
He also 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 the trial.
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