Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to November 24, following a disruption of court activities on Monday.
The matter, originally slated for hearing that day, was affected after Justice Mohammed Umar was unable to sit due to a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore. The protest was held to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
As a result, Justice Umar’s courtroom on the third floor of the Federal High Court complex remained locked.
Normal court proceedings resumed the following day, and the case was officially rescheduled.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Justice Umar had initially adjourned the case to October 21 after the defence raised objections that stalled the trial on its earlier date, September 22.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation. After being granted bail, the court scheduled her trial to begin in September.
At the last sitting, as prosecuting counsel David Kaswe prepared to call the first witness and a screen was mounted for the court proceedings, defence lawyer Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, objected to the trial’s commencement.
West-Idahosa informed the court that a preliminary objection had been submitted, challenging the court’s jurisdiction. He clarified that the challenge was not against the charges themselves, but rather targeted what he called an “abuse of prosecutorial powers” by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). He also argued that the defence had yet to receive statements from the prosecution’s witnesses.
Kaswe, for the prosecution, urged the court to proceed despite the objection, but Justice Umar insisted that the matter raised by the defence must be resolved first. “We must address the jurisdictional challenge before moving forward,” the judge said.
In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of using electronic channels to spread false and harmful claims with the intent to incite unrest and endanger lives—charges brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
The charges stem from remarks she allegedly made during an April 4 public event in Ihima, Kogi State, where she reportedly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of directing former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to “have her killed.” She allegedly repeated these accusations in a televised interview.
The trial will now proceed once the court rules on the preliminary objection raised by the defence.
NAN
