ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday stalled the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged cybercrime offences following a preliminary objection raised by her lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN).
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, was arraigned by the Federal Government on a six-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The charges border on the alleged transmission of false and injurious information against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.
Justice Mohammed Umar had fixed September 22 for trial commencement after admitting the senator to bail in June.
When the matter was called, prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the prosecution was ready with its first witness and had already mounted a television screen in the courtroom for evidence presentation.
However, West-Idahosa objected, saying the defence had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
He argued that the charges represented an abuse of prosecutorial powers by the Attorney-General of the Federation and that the defence had not been served with witness statements.
Kaswe urged the court to allow proceedings to continue while the objection was addressed.
However, Justice Umar held that it was proper to determine the jurisdictional objection first before trial.
He adjourned the case until October 20 for hearing of the motion.
In one of the charges, Akpoti-Uduaghan was alleged to have told a crowd in Ihima, Kogi, on April 1, 2025, that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her killed in Kogi rather than Abuja so that it would appear as a local attack.
She allegedly repeated the claim in a television interview, statements prosecutors described as false, injurious, inciting, and capable of endangering lives.
The senator, however, maintains her innocence and insists the charges are politically motivated
