The scheduled start of the cybercrime trial against suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, at the Federal High Court in Abuja was delayed on Monday after her legal team raised an objection.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, had been granted bail, with Justice Mohammed Umar fixing September 22 for the trial to begin.
When proceedings resumed, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the matter for the day was for the prosecution to present its first witness. Kaswe, who had already arranged a television screen in preparation for the session, stated that the prosecution’s witness was present and ready to testify.
However, defence counsel Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, raised concerns, noting that his client had filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction. He clarified that the objection was not about the substance of the charges but about an alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
West-Idahosa also argued that the defence had not been provided with the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Kaswe maintained that the objection should not disrupt the day’s proceedings, but Justice Umar ruled that the objection must first be addressed before the trial could move forward. The judge adjourned the matter to October 20, 2025, for a hearing on the objection.
Akpoti-Uduaghan faces charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024, accused of spreading false and harmful information online with intent to defame, incite violence, and endanger lives.
The charges allege that on April 4, 2025, in Ihima, Kogi State, she claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello to orchestrate her assassination in the state.
Count one of the charge read:
“That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, you — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘…and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here…’ And you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same Act.”
Count two read:
“That on or about the 1st day of April 2025, while addressing a crowd of people at Ihima Community, Kogi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘…and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here…’ And you, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Yahaya Adoza Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”