ABUJA, Nigeria (Chatnewstv.com) — The trial of suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on charges of alleged cybercrime against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja after her lawyers challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge under the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention (Amendment) Act 2024, had been granted bail, with the trial scheduled to begin September 22.
When proceedings opened, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe said the government was ready to call its first witness and had set up a television screen in the courtroom for the session.
But defence lawyer Ehiogie West-Idahosa, a senior advocate of Nigeria, objected, alleging an abuse of the attorney general’s prosecutorial powers and arguing the defence had not been served with witness statements.
Kaswe urged the court to proceed despite the objection, but Justice Mohammed Umar ruled the matter must first be addressed. “The court will first determine the objection before taking any further steps in the case,” he said, adjourning the trial until Oct. 20.
Prosecutors allege Akpoti-Uduaghan transmitted false and injurious information electronically with intent to incite violence and disturb public order. In one instance, they said, she told a crowd in Kogi State on April 1 that Akpabio had urged Bello to ensure she was killed locally rather than in Abuja to make it appear like a community attack.
The charges also cite a television interview where she allegedly repeated the accusation, which prosecutors say could damage the reputations of both men.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, is being prosecuted by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar. If convicted, Akpoti-Uduaghan faces penalties under Section 24(2)(c) of the amended Cybercrimes Act.
