The trial of suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on charges of alleged cybercrime against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello, was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Gatekeepers News reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge under the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention (Amendment) Act 2024, had been granted bail, with trial initially set to begin on September 22.
When proceedings opened, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe told the court the prosecution was ready to call its first witness and had even set up a television screen in the courtroom for the session.
However, defence lawyer Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) raised a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction, alleging abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He also complained that the defence had not been served with statements of prosecution witnesses.
Kaswe urged the court to proceed with the trial despite the objection, but Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the defence application must first be addressed.
“The court will first determine the objection before taking any further steps in the case,” the judge held, before adjourning to October 20.
Charges Against Natasha
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, prosecutors allege that Akpoti-Uduaghan transmitted false and injurious information with intent to incite, endanger lives, and disturb public order.
According to the particulars, she allegedly told a crowd in Ihima, Kogi State, on April 1, 2025, that:
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello… 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 here.”
Prosecutors claim she repeated similar allegations in a television interview, suggesting that Akpabio and Bello conspired to assassinate her.
The charges state that her comments could harm the reputations of both the Senate President and the former governor, in violation of Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act.
Background
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, contends that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements amount to transmitting false information electronically with intent to malign.
If convicted, she faces penalties prescribed under the amended Cybercrimes Act.
