Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the full hearing of the six-count cybercrime charge against suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, until October 20.

The trial, earlier scheduled to begin, was stalled by a fresh application filed by the defendant challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

At the resumed proceedings, the Federal Government’s counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, told the court that his witness was present and ready for the commencement of trial.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by Mr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, informed the court of a preliminary objection filed to question its jurisdiction.

He argued that the objection centered on an alleged abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

West-Idahosa also complained that the prosecution failed to serve the defence with the full statements of its proposed witnesses, stressing that Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) makes it mandatory for the accused to be provided with proof of evidence to adequately prepare her defence.

In response, FG’s counsel insisted that the objection was insufficient to halt the trial.

“We have exercised our prosecutorial powers according to both the Constitution and the Cybercrime law. The AGF has the power to prefer charge against anyone,” Kaswe told the court, urging it to allow the prosecution to proceed.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar held that he would first hear the objection before taking further steps in the matter.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had earlier been suspended from the Senate for six months, is facing charges in case number CR/297/25 for allegedly making false claims of an assassination plot against her.

The Federal Government alleged that she falsely accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of being part of a meeting where her assassination was planned.

According to prosecutors, she made the allegations during an address to her supporters in Kogi State and on April 3, during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The prosecution said she claimed both Akpabio and Bello agreed she should be eliminated in a staged mob action in Kogi.

FG argued that transmitting such a false claim, which could harm the reputation of the two politicians, constitutes an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who pleaded not guilty when arraigned on June 30, was granted bail on self-recognition.

Separately, she was also docked before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on charges of defaming Senator Akpabio and Bello.

On June 19, Justice Chizoba Orji granted her bail set at N50 million with one surety, who must be a person of integrity and own landed property in Abuja.

That court said its decision was guided by Section 36 of the Constitution, along with Sections 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and fixed September 23 for the commencement of that trial.

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