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The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to February 4, 2026. The case, slated for hearing on Monday before Justice Mohammed Umar, could not proceed due to the judge’s absence. The new date has now been set for the formal commencement of trial.
This postponement adds to a series of delays in the proceedings. The earlier hearing scheduled for October 21 was also halted, reportedly because a protest calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu disrupted court activities.
The six-count charge against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—filed on June 30 by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar—led to her being granted bail, with the case initially fixed for trial on September 22.
However, on that September date, just as prosecuting counsel David Kaswe prepared to present the first witness following the installation of a television screen in the courtroom, defense counsel Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, raised a preliminary objection.
He informed the court that the defense had filed a notice challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter. The objection did not contest the charges themselves but argued that the prosecution amounted to an abuse of the powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The defense also noted that they had not yet received the mandatory copies of witness statements.
Although the prosecution urged the court to proceed despite the objection, Justice Umar ruled otherwise. He directed the prosecution to file a formal response and stated that he intended to resolve the jurisdictional challenge before entertaining any further steps in the trial.
The case is brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting allegedly false and harmful information through electronic channels, with the intent to cause malice, incite unrest, and disturb public order.
The charges stem from an April 4 statement she made in Ihima, Kogi State, in which she claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had instructed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to have her assassinated. She is also alleged to have repeated similar claims in a subsequent television interview, alleging a conspiracy to harm her.
