Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to February 4, 2026.
The case, scheduled for Monday, could not proceed due to the judge’s absence. It had also been stalled on October 21 following a protest organized by activist Omoyele Sowore demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, recently convicted on terrorism charges.
Justice Umar had initially fixed October 21 for the hearing after the trial was earlier delayed due to an objection raised by the defendant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar. She was granted bail, with the trial adjourned to September 22 for commencement.
However, on the last adjourned date, as the prosecution lawyer, David Kaswe, was about to call the first witness, the defense counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, raised a preliminary objection. This occurred after a television screen had been mounted in the courtroom in preparation for the proceedings.
West-Idahosa told the court that the objection, which challenges the court’s jurisdiction, had already been filed. He clarified that the challenge is not about the nature of the charges but concerns the alleged abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). The lawyer also complained that the defense had not been served with copies of the prosecution witnesses’ statements.
Although Kaswe argued that the objection should not delay the day’s proceedings, Justice Umar insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection. The judge emphasized that he would determine the objection before taking further steps in the trial.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting false and injurious information via electronic means with the intent to malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.
Specifically, she is alleged to have claimed during a April 4 gathering in Ihima, Kogi, that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed. She reportedly repeated similar claims in a television interview, alleging a plot by the Senate President and former governor to harm her.
The charges are brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
