The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the trial of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on a six-count cybercrime charge filed by the Federal Government. The matter, which was expected to proceed to full hearing on Monday, was deferred until October 20 following a fresh objection raised by the defence.
At the resumed sitting, the prosecution, represented by Mr. David Kaswe, informed the court that its witness was present and ready to testify. However, the defence team, led by Mr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case. The objection, according to the defence, was premised on an alleged abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
West-Idahosa further argued that the prosecution failed to serve the defence with the full statements of its proposed witnesses. He maintained that this omission violated Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right of every defendant to be furnished with proof of evidence to enable adequate preparation for trial.
In response, the Federal Government’s counsel insisted that the objection lacked merit and should not hinder the commencement of trial. Kaswe argued that the AGF had acted within constitutional and statutory powers in initiating the charge, stressing that the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, empowers the government to prosecute such offences.
Presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, ruled that the defence’s objection must first be heard and determined before the trial could proceed. Consequently, the case was adjourned to October 20 for arguments on jurisdiction.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to allegations of making false claims about an assassination plot. According to the prosecution, she alleged during a rally in Kogi State and on a live television broadcast on April 3 that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello held a meeting where they allegedly agreed to eliminate her under the guise of mob action.
The Federal Government contends that the senator’s remarks, which were transmitted via broadcast media, damaged the reputation of both Akpabio and Bello, amounting to an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime Act. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is also facing a separate defamation case before a High Court of the FCT, has consistently maintained her innocence.
She was earlier suspended from the Senate for six months and granted bail in both cases. In the FCT case, Justice Chizoba Orji admitted her to bail in the sum of ₦50 million with a surety who must own property in Abuja, citing constitutional guarantees and provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The Federal High Court had similarly granted her bail on self-recognition.
