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 case, earlier scheduled for hearing on Monday, was stalled after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team filed a fresh objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
Prosecution counsel David Kaswe informed the court that his witness was present and ready to testify. However, defence lawyer Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, argued that the Attorney General of the Federation had abused prosecutorial powers and that the defence had not been served with complete witness statements, a violation of section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
Kaswe countered, insisting that the Attorney General had acted within constitutional powers under the Cybercrime Act and urged the court to proceed with trial.
In a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar held that the jurisdictional objection must be addressed first before any further steps could be taken. The matter was adjourned to October 20.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended by the Senate earlier this year, faces charges under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, over allegations that she falsely accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination.
Prosecutors allege she repeated the claims during a rally in Kogi and a live television broadcast on April 3, knowing it could damage the reputation of both men. She has pleaded not guilty.
The senator was previously granted bail by both the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court in a related defamation case, with the Maitama court setting bail at ₦50 million and requiring a surety with landed property in Abuja.
