The trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged cybercrime was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.
Gatekeepers News reports that the case, earlier scheduled for hearing today, has now been adjourned to February 4, 2026, for the commencement of trial. The matter had also failed to hold on October 21 following a protest led by Omoyele Sowore demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, recently convicted on terrorism charges.
Justice Umar had fixed the October date after earlier proceedings on September 22 were disrupted by a preliminary objection raised by the defence.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar. She was granted bail after her arraignment, and the court initially set September 22 as the start date for the trial.
However, at the previous sitting, the defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), objected just as the prosecution’s lawyer, David Kaswe, was about to call the first witness. A television screen had already been set up in the courtroom in preparation for the proceedings.
West-Idahosa informed the court that a notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction had been filed. He said the challenge was not about the substance of the charge but against what he described as an abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The defence also complained about not being served with the statements of the prosecution’s witnesses.
Although Kaswe argued that the objection should not delay the day’s hearing, Justice Umar maintained that the prosecution must respond first. The judge ruled that the court would determine the jurisdictional objection before proceeding with the trial.
Details of the Charge
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting false and injurious information using electronic means, allegedly intended to malign, incite, endanger lives, and disturb public order.
The senator is alleged to have, on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of directing former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed. She is also accused of repeating similar allegations during a television interview.
The case is being prosecuted under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
