|By Adejumo Adekunle-
-FG Files Cybercrime Charges Against Senator Over Assassination Allegations
–Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Faces Six-Count Indictment Under Amended Cybercrimes Law
The Federal Government has filed a six-count criminal charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of spreading false and defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marks the first major test of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu to combat digital misinformation and protect public integrity.
Between April 1 and 14, 2025, the Kogi Central Senator reportedly made public accusations — both in Ihima, Kogi State, and on Channels TV’s Politics Today — alleging that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her.
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello… that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me,” she said in Ihima.
She further claimed on live TV: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”
According to court filings, the prosecution insists that the statements were knowingly false, circulated with the intent to incite public disorder and damage reputations, especially given their wide spread on digital platforms and news outlets.
Under Section 24(2)(c) of the amended Cybercrimes Act, it is a criminal offense to intentionally disseminate false content aimed at causing reputational harm or inciting unrest.
The Charges Filed Include:
-
Counts 1 & 3: Defamation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio
-
Counts 2 & 4: Defamation against former Governor Yahaya Bello
-
Counts 5 & 6: Knowingly spreading falsehood to provoke public disorder
Government prosecutors argue that unchecked allegations of this nature could destabilize democratic institutions, fuel mistrust, and inflame political tensions nationwide.
The case is expected to draw significant public attention as it tests both free speech boundaries and the reach of digital laws in Nigeria’s evolving cyber-regulatory landscape.
