The Federal High Court Abuja on Monday granted the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan bail on self-recognition.
Akpoti-Udauaghan, who accused senate president Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment, was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.
She is accused of making false and damaging statements against Akpabio and Kogi State’s former governor, Yahaya Bello in the fallout of her sexual harassment allegations. She accused the two men of plotting to kill her.
The senator said that “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.”
According to the Federal Government, which had not taken any steps on her sexual harassment complaint, these statements were knowingly false and intended to incite unrest.
They violate “Section 24(2)(c)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional spread of false information to damage reputations or provoke public disorder, the federal govt said.
In her bail request, 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 granted the application and adjourned to September 22, for the commencement of trial.
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