Due to Justice Mohammed Umar’s absence on Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja postponed the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi North till November 24.
The #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration, spearheaded by activist Omoyele Sowore, disrupted court operations throughout the Federal Capital Territory, apparently making the judge inaccessible.
All scheduled cases, including the trial of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, were reportedly halted Monday due to the lockdown of Justice Umar’s courtroom.
The court later delayed the case for Tuesday, setting the trial start date for November 24.
This came after the case was originally scheduled for October 21 but was postponed on September 22 after the defense team’s objection caused the proceedings to stall.
Kogi North Senatorial District Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was reportedly arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge brought by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), for alleged computer offenses.
Justice Umar granted her bail after she entered a not guilty plea, and he postponed the trial until September 22.
However, defense attorney Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) filed a preliminary objection contesting the court’s jurisdiction when prosecution attorney David Kaswe tried to introduce his first witness.
According to West-Idahosa, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was accused of abusing his prosecutorial authority, not the accusation itself.
Additionally, he expressed dissatisfaction about the prosecution’s failure to provide copies of witness statements to the defense team prior to the trial.
“To contest the court’s jurisdiction, we have already submitted a notice of preliminary objection. It is against the prosecution’s process, not the charge itself,” the defense attorney stated.
Justice Umar decided that the prosecution must first provide a formal response before the case can move forward, even though Kaswe urged the court to move forward with the trial in spite of the objection.
The Senator is accused of
The prosecution charged Akpoti-Uduaghan with providing harmful and misleading information by electronic means in violation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, in the charge designated FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025.
At a public event in Ihima, Kogi State, on April 4, she was accused of accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of giving former Governor Yahaya Bello the order to have her killed.
In a televised broadcast, she allegedly reiterated the accusations, according to the prosecution, claiming that both men plotted to have her killed for political purposes.
These words were meant to “malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public peace,” according to the charging sheet.
Before the trial can start, Justice Umar is anticipated to make a decision regarding the defense’s preliminary objection.
On November 24, the case will recommence, and it is anticipated that both parties will present more arguments to the court.
