Trial in the cybercrime charges brought against suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan could not hold on Monday as earlier scheduled.
The matter is currently before a Federal High Court in Abuja, but was stalled owing to an objection raised by the defendant.
Akpoti-Uduaghan it would be recalled was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar and granted bail, following which Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned till September 22 for the commencement of trial.
But when the case was called on Monday, prosecuting lawyer 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 preparatory to the commencement of proceedings, told the court that the prosecution had a witness in court and was ready to proceed.
In his response, the defence lawyers, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), expressed concern about the possibility of the prosecution opening its case.
West-Idahosa said his client has filed a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
He said the objection is not to the nature of the charge but 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 th statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Although Kaswe argued strenuously that the objection filed by the defendant should not be allowed to stall the court’s business for the day, Justice Umar insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection.
The judge said he intends to first determine the objection raised by the defence before taking any further steps in the case.
He has subsequently fixed October 20 for the hearing of the objection.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is, in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025 brought under the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, etc (Amendment) Act 2024 alleged to have transmitted false and injurious information via electronic means with the intention to malign, incite, and endanger lives and breach public order.
