The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the hearing of a preliminary objection filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her ongoing defamation trial until 1 December.
Justice Chizoba Oji fixed the new date on Monday after the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that although the matter was scheduled for a hearing, the prosecution had been unable to properly serve its response to the defence. He, however, noted that the response had already been filed with the court.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on 19 June before the FCT High Court on a three-count charge of harmful imputation, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, the senator was accused of making false statements allegedly intended to damage the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. She was alleged to have claimed that the two men conspired to kill her and further linked Senator Akpabio to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At the last sitting on 23 September, defence counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN) informed the court that the defence had filed a notice of preliminary objection, arguing that the AGF’s office had abused its prosecutorial powers. He described the objection as a “threshold jurisdictional matter” rather than a challenge to the substance of the charges.
On Monday, Kaswe explained that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit had been served to an incorrect address and requested a short adjournment to enable proper service.
“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter proceed when the defence has not received our response,” Kaswe said.
Confirming the situation, West-Idahosa told the court that none of the defence counsel had been served and requested a longer adjournment, citing plans to attend the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oji adjourned the matter to 1 December for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
