ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — A Nigerian court on Monday postponed the hearing of a preliminary objection filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her defamation trial, after prosecutors failed to properly serve their response to the defense. The case will now be heard on December 1.
Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama granted the adjournment following a request from government prosecutor David Kaswe, who said the prosecution’s counter-affidavit had been filed but was mistakenly delivered to the wrong address.
“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter proceed when the defense team has not been properly served,” Kaswe told the court.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in Nigeria’s Senate, was arraigned on June 19 on a three-count charge of harmful imputation. The charges, brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, accuse her of making defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Prosecutors allege that Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely claimed Akpabio and Bello conspired to kill her. She is also accused of linking Akpabio to the death of Iniobong Umoren, a young woman whose killing drew national attention in 2021.
The senator has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At a previous hearing on September 23, defense counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa informed the court that the defense had filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the Attorney-General’s office had abused its prosecutorial powers. The objection challenges the validity of the charges, not their substance.
West-Idahosa confirmed on Monday that the defense had not received the prosecution’s response and said the team intended to file additional evidence once properly served. He also requested a longer adjournment, citing plans by members of the defense team to attend the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
Justice Oji granted the request and adjourned the hearing to December 1.
