The planned commencement of trial in the cybercrime charge against suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was stalled on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja following an objection raised by her defence team.
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Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, had earlier been granted bail. Justice Mohammed Umar had fixed September 22 for the prosecution to open its case.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with its first witness, having prepared the courtroom with a television screen for the presentation of evidence.
However, defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, raised a preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case. He argued that the objection was not against the nature of the charge but targeted at what he described as an abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
West-Idahosa also complained that the defence had not been served with the statements of the prosecution’s witnesses.
Although Kaswe urged the court to allow the prosecution to proceed despite the objection, Justice Umar ruled that the issue of jurisdiction must first be determined. He adjourned the matter to October 20, 2025, for hearing of the objection.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing trial under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 brought pursuant to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The prosecution alleged that she transmitted false and injurious information with intent to malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.
In one of the counts, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of telling a crowd in Ihima, Kogi State, on April 1, 2025, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed former governor Yahaya Bello to ensure that she was killed in Kogi rather than Abuja. She allegedly repeated similar claims during a television interview.
The prosecution maintains that the statements were false, malicious, and capable of harming the reputations of both Akpabio and Bello, offences said to contravene Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Act and punishable under the same.
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