The Federal High Court in Abuja has moved the trial of suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to October 20, following a fresh objection raised by her legal team.
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The Federal Government had brought a six-count cybercrime charge against the lawmaker, accusing her of making false assassination claims during a rally in Kogi State and in an April television interview. She was said to have named Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello in an alleged plot to eliminate her, charges she has denied.
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At Monday’s hearing, government counsel David Kaswe announced readiness to begin trial, with witnesses present. But Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), argued that the court lacked jurisdiction, insisting the Attorney General of the Federation had abused prosecutorial powers. He also said the defence had not received complete witness statements as required by law.
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Kaswe countered that the objection should not delay proceedings, maintaining that the prosecution acted within constitutional and cybercrime law provisions.
Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the objection must first be addressed before the trial can continue.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who pleaded not guilty when first arraigned in June, is also facing a separate defamation case before an Abuja High Court over the same allegations. She has since been granted bail in both matters.
The trial is now expected to resume after the court determines whether it has jurisdiction to hear the cybercrime charges.
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