The trial of suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on alleged cybercrime charges before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja was stalled following 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, and the trial was initially scheduled to commence on September 22.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that they were ready to proceed and that the first witness was already present. However, the defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), raised concerns over the prosecution’s readiness to open its case.
West-Idahosa stated that his client had filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case. He clarified that the objection was not related to the nature of the charges but stemmed from an alleged abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Additionally, the defence complained about not receiving copies of the prosecution witnesses’ statements.
While the prosecution argued that the objection should not delay court proceedings, Justice Umar ruled that the court must first address the objection before proceeding further. The judge subsequently scheduled October 20 for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
Alleged cybercrime
Akpoti-Uduaghan faces charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024, accused of transmitting false information electronically with the intent to malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.
The charges allege that on April 4, 2025, during a gathering in Ihima, Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed.
She is also accused of repeating similar allegations during a television interview, asserting that the Senate President and the former governor conspired to have her killed in her state.
