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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rescheduled the cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, to November 24, 2025.
The adjournment came on October 21, after normal court operations resumed following a temporary suspension of judicial activities caused by the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore on October 20. The demonstration had disrupted proceedings and forced the postponement of several cases, including Akpoti-Uduaghan’s.
On the day of the protest, Justice Umar’s courtroom, located on the third floor of the Federal High Court building, was inaccessible as staff and litigants were asked to vacate the premises for safety reasons. This brought the scheduled hearing to an abrupt halt.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is standing trial in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, where she is accused of transmitting false and harmful information electronically, allegedly with the intent to “malign, incite, endanger lives, and breach public order.” The charges were filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The allegations stem from statements the senator allegedly made on April 4, 2025, during a community gathering in Ihima, Kogi State. At the event, she purportedly claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to “have her killed.”
She was further accused of repeating this claim during a television interview, insisting that both Akpabio and Bello had conspired to eliminate her in Kogi State.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge and was later granted bail. The court had initially fixed September 22 for the commencement of trial. However, on that date, when the prosecution, represented by David Kaswe, attempted to call its first witness, the defence team, led by Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), raised a preliminary objection.
West-Idahosa argued that his objection was not directed at the content of the charges but rather at what he described as an “abuse of prosecutorial powers” by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). He also informed the court that the defence had not been served with the statements of the prosecution witnesses, a procedural requirement for fair trial preparation.
In response, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to proceed with the witness testimony, arguing that the defence’s objection should not stall the trial. However, Justice Umar disagreed, ruling that the prosecution must first respond formally to the objection before the trial could continue.
The judge adjourned the matter to allow the prosecution time to file its written response to the defence’s challenge, stating that he would deliver a ruling on the issue before proceeding with the substantive hearing.
With the court’s latest schedule, the case will now resume on November 24, 2025, when Justice Umar is expected to rule on the jurisdictional objection raised by the defence and possibly determine the way forward in the trial.
The case against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has drawn significant public attention, given its political undertones and the personalities involved. Legal observers have also described it as a test of how the recently amended Cybercrimes Act will be interpreted in relation to free speech and political commentary in Nigeria.
For now, both parties await the court’s decision on whether the case will proceed to full trial or be halted pending the outcome of the defence’s objection.
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