Under the amended Cybercrimes Act of Nigeria, the Federal Government has initiated legal action against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a Kogi Central Senator. This is a significant step forward in the company's efforts to prevent false information and preserve digital integrity.
For allegedly making defamatory comments about Yahaya Bello and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Natasha faces six criminal charges. The most prominent test of cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc.) was presented in the case, which was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. (Amendment) Act, 2024, since its enactment.
Between April 1 and 14, 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly claimed in public speeches and a live television interview that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her. In a speech delivered in Ihima, Kogi State, she allegedly stated: “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.”
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 contends that these statements, widely disseminated through digital platforms, were knowingly false and intended to incite unrest. The remarks, according to the prosecution, are in violation of "Section 24(2)(c)" of the Cybercrimes Act, which makes it illegal to intentionally spread false information to harm reputations or cause public disorder.
The 2024 amendment, signed by President Bola Tinubu, strengthens Nigeria’s legal framework against digital misinformation. False information intended to harm reputations is the focus of this particular attack.
The charges against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan include:
Defamation against Senate President Akpabio (Counts 1 & 3)
Defamation against former Governor Bello (Counts 2 & 4)
Knowingly spreading falsehoods to incite public disorder (Counts 5 & 6)
The prosecution asserts that the senator’s statements, if unchecked, could undermine trust in government institutions and escalate political tensions.
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