The Federal Government has filed fresh criminal charges against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, escalating its legal battle with the embattled lawmaker.
The latest charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 22, 2025—just weeks after a similar charge (CR/297/25) was initiated at the FCT High Court. Both charges stem from alleged comments made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, which the government claims tarnished the reputations of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
While the FCT High Court case is grounded in Section 392 of the Penal Code, relating to criminal defamation, the new charge at the Federal High Court is brought under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2024 (as amended). The government alleges that the senator made online statements capable of damaging the public image of both Akpabio and Bello.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has strongly denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and part of an attempt to silence opposition voices.
The decision to file parallel cases in separate courts has sparked criticism and accusations of forum shopping—a legal strategy in which plaintiffs pursue similar cases in different courts to improve their odds of a favorable judgment.
The senator, who was granted bail by the FCT High Court on June 19, 2025, is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court for arraignment on June 30, 2025.
