Dare Babalola
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the trial of the cybercrime charges brought against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This development happened on Monday following an objection raised by her counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN).
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on 30 June on a six-count charge filed against her by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, and granted bail, following which the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, adjourned till 22 September to commence trial.
When the case was called on Monday, prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, told the court that the business of the day was for the prosecution to open its case by calling its first witness.
Kaswe, who had a television screen mounted in the courtroom in preparation for the commencement of proceedings, told the court that the prosecution had a witness in court and was ready to proceed.
Responding, defence counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), expressed concern about the possibility of the prosecution opening its case because of the notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendant challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
He said the objection was not to the nature of the charge but to the alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The defence lawyer also complained about not being served with copies of the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Although Kaswe argued that the objection filed by the defendant should not be allowed to stall the court’s business for the day, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection.
The defence lawyer also complained about not being served with copies of the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Although Kaswe argued that the objection filed by the defendant should not be allowed to stall the court’s business for the day, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection.
The DPP had earlier told the court that Akpoti-Uduaghan, while addressing a gathering on April 4, 2025, in Ihima, Kogi State, alleged that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, instructed former Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed in Kogi State.
She was alleged to have repeated the same claim during a television interview, asserting that the Senate President and the former Governor of Kogi State plotted to kill her in the state.
Some of the counts in the charge read, “That on or about April 1, 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”.
Another charge states that, on or about April 1, 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”.
The judge consequently adjourned the case to October 20 for the hearing of the objection and commencement of the trial.
