The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator for Kogi Central, on cybercrime charges.
The trial, which was scheduled to begin today, was postponed until October 20, 2025, after the defendant’s legal team filed a new motion challenging the court’s authority to hear the case.
During the court session, the prosecution’s lawyer, David Kaswe, stated that his witness was ready for trial.
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However, the defense counsel, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ehiogie West-Idahosa, informed the court of a preliminary objection centered on what they called an “abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).”
The defense also complained that they had not been given the full statements of the proposed witnesses, a violation of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees a defendant the right to prepare a proper defense.
The prosecution argued that the objection should not prevent the trial from proceeding, asserting that the court has jurisdiction over the cybercrime case.
Justice Mohammed Umar, however, decided to hear the jurisdictional challenge before moving forward with the trial.
Akpoti-Uduaghan faces a six-count charge for allegedly making a false assassination claim.
The Federal Government, FG, accused her of alleging that a meeting was held to plot her assassination, with key political figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, in attendance.
The alleged claims were made during a political address in Kogi and a live broadcast on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on April 3.
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The government maintains that the senator knowingly transmitted this false information to harm the reputations of Akpabio and Bello, which is an offense under Section 24(2) (c) of the Cybercrime Act.
The senator has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was previously granted bail on self-recognition in this case and a separate defamation case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, which is set to begin its trial on September 23.
