The Federal Government has preferred fresh charges against the embattled suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The new charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on May 22, 2025, just weeks after a similar charge, CR/297/25, was instituted at the FCT High Court.
The two charges were based on the alleged comments by the female Senator, which the government claimed were damaging to the reputations of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello.
However, the case before the FCT High Court is based on Section 392 of the Penal Code, which deals with criminal defamation, while the second case was filed under Sections 24 (1) (b) and 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2024 (as amended).
The government alleged that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made online statements that “could damage the public image” of Akpabio and Bello.
Natasha denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and designed to intimidate her.
Some watchers have criticised the filing of parallel charges in different courts, accusing the FG of forum shopping, a controversial legal tactic where litigants file identical or similar suits in multiple courts to increase their chances of securing a favourable ruling.
Senator Natasha is expected to appear before the Federal High Court for arraignment on June 30, 2025, following her earlier bail granted by the FCT High Court on June 19, 2025.
