By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, has adjourned the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on alleged cybercrime offences to November 24.
Our correspondent recalls that Justice Mohammed Umar, who was scheduled to preside over the case on Monday, was absent due to the disruption of court activities caused by a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore, demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The judge’s courtroom, located on the third floor of the court building, remained under lock and key as proceedings were suspended. The matter was subsequently rescheduled to November 24, when normal court operations resumed on Tuesday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the case had earlier been slated for hearing on September 22, after proceedings were stalled by an objection raised by the defence.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar. She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, with the trial initially fixed for September 22.
At the last sitting, however, when the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, was about to open his case and call the first witness, the defence team, led by Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), raised a preliminary objection.
West-Idahosa informed the court that a notice challenging the court’s jurisdiction had already been filed, arguing that the charges constituted an abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). He also complained that the defence had not been served copies of the prosecution witnesses’ statements.
While the prosecution urged the court to proceed with the trial despite the objection, Justice Umar ruled that the objection must first be determined before the case could continue.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting false and injurious information through electronic means, allegedly aimed at maligning, inciting, and endangering lives, as well as breaching public peace.
The prosecution claims that during a public gathering on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, and in a subsequent television interview, the senator accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of instructing former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to have her killed.
The charges were brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
