Senator Natasha arraigned for allegedly ‘harming’ Akpabio, Yahaya Bello’s fame, will get N50m bail 

The workplace of the Lawyer-Common of the Federation on Thursday arraigned Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on fees associated to the alleged intention to hurt the fame of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello by way of feedback she made throughout a TV interview and a non-public dialog.

After her arraignment, through which she pleaded not responsible, the courtroom granted her bail within the sum of N50 million for alleged defamation.

The AGF charged Akpoti-Uduaghan with three counts of alleged defamation towards Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello.

The cost partly reads: “Making imputation figuring out or having motive to imagine that such imputation will hurt the fame of an individual opposite to Part 391 of the Penal Code Regulation, Cap 89 Legal guidelines of the Federation, 1990, and punishable below Part 392 of the identical Regulation.” 

The AGF alleged that she had “motive to imagine that such imputation will hurt the fame of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, President of the tenth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

What Transpired in Court docket 

• On the courtroom session, the feminine lawmaker pleaded not responsible when the cost was learn to her by the registrar.
• Following her plea, the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, requested Justice Chizoba Oji to remand her in a correctional centre pending the dedication of her bail utility.
• Nevertheless, Natasha’s counsel, Prof. Roland Otaru, sought and obtained permission to maneuver the bail utility for the defendant.
• Otaru urged the choose to train her discretion in favour of the defendant.
• He argued that the suspended senator was not a flight danger and wouldn’t intrude with the police investigation or witnesses.
• He added that the Structure presumes her harmless, whereas the Administration of Legal Justice Act 2015 emphasizes bail in such offences.
• On his half, the prosecution counsel urged the choose to refuse the bail utility, stating that it took nice efforts and officers encountered difficulties earlier than the defendant may very well be served with the cost.

Court docket Ruling 

• Ruling on the bail utility, Justice Chizoba Oji burdened that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the regulation presumes her harmless till confirmed responsible.
• The choose granted her N50 million bail and one cheap surety within the like sum.
• The surety should be an proprietor of landed property inside the jurisdiction of the courtroom, the choose dominated.
• Justice Oji subsequently adjourned the case till September 23 for the graduation of the trial.

What You Ought to Know 

• That is the second associated cost towards the feminine lawmaker by the AGF.
• Nairametrics beforehand reported that the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja directed the Workplace of the Lawyer Common of the Federation to serve Senator Natasha Akpoti with a cybercrime cost by way of her lawyer.
• Within the six-count cost, Akpoti is accused of violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, and so on.) (Modification) Act, 2024, by allegedly making feedback focusing on the fame of the Senate President
• The courtroom adjourned the matter to June 30 for arraignment.