The trial of suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on cybercrime charges was on Monday adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja following an objection raised by her legal team.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is facing a six-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, was arraigned on June 30 and granted bail on self-recognition.
She is accused of transmitting false and injurious information with the intent to malign, incite violence, and disrupt public order.
According to the prosecution, she had publicly alleged in April that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, to orchestrate her assassination in the state—a claim she reportedly repeated during a television interview.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel David Kaswe told the court that his team was ready to open its case, with a witness present and a television screen mounted for evidence presentation.
However, defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the charges amounted to an abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
West-Idahosa further complained that the defence had not been served with witness statements.
Despite Kaswe’s insistence that the case should proceed, Justice Umar ruled that the prosecution must first respond to the objection before trial could continue.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 20 for hearing.