FG Tightens Noose: Fresh Cybercrime Charge Filed Against Senator Natasha
The Federal Government has escalated its legal battle against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by filing a fresh charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, just weeks after initiating a similar case against her at the FCT High Court.
The new charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was instituted on May 22, 2025, accusing the Kogi lawmaker of cybercrime-related offences for allegedly publishing statements online aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. These allegations, which Akpoti-Uduaghan has consistently denied, mirror those in the earlier charge pending before the FCT High Court, which focuses on alleged criminal defamation under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
In the latest case, the government invokes Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2024 (as amended), broadening its legal offensive against the senator.
The duplication of charges, based on identical facts, has triggered concerns among legal experts and rights groups, who describe the development as possible forum shopping—a tactic of filing similar cases in different courts to secure a favourable outcome. Critics warn that this approach risks undermining judicial integrity and could amount to harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, recently granted bail by the FCT High Court on June 19, 2025, is now scheduled to be arraigned on the fresh charge at the Federal High Court on June 30, 2025.
Across the globe, criminal defamation laws have been rolled back in favour of civil remedies, with Nigerian states like Lagos, Delta, Edo, and Ekiti already abolishing such criminal statutes. Human rights advocates fear the renewed use of defamation and cybercrime laws against political opponents signals an attempt to muzzle dissent and erode free speech.
Observers caution that deploying legal tools to shield public figures from criticism not only threatens constitutional rights but also sets a troubling precedent for democracy in Nigeria.
