Court adjourns Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s cybercrime trial to February 2026

The Federal High Court in Abuja has again adjourned the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged cybercrime, pushing the matter to February 4, 2026.

The case, which was scheduled to continue on Monday before Justice Mohammed Umar, could not proceed because the judge was absent. The court later fixed February 4, 2026, for the official commencement of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the matter had earlier failed to hold on October 21 due to a protest led by activist Omoyele Sowore, who was demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, recently convicted for terrorism offences.

Justice Umar had set October 21 as the next date for hearing after proceedings were stalled on September 22 when the defence raised an objection.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar. She was later granted bail, and the judge fixed September 22 for trial to begin.

However, on that date, just as the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, was preparing to call the first witness—after a television screen was set up in the courtroom—the defence objected.

Her lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, informed the court that a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction had already been filed. He said the objection was not about the charges themselves, but about what he described as an abuse of the powers of the Attorney General of the Federation.

West-Idahosa also complained that the defence had not been given copies of the prosecution witnesses’ statements.

Although Kaswe argued that the objection should not stop the day’s proceedings, Justice Umar ruled that the prosecution must first respond before trial could proceed. He said the court would address the jurisdictional objection before taking any further step.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting false and harmful information electronically with the intention to malign, incite, endanger lives and disrupt public order.

She is alleged to have claimed during an April 4 gathering in Ihima, Kogi State, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed former Governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed. She reportedly repeated the allegations in a television interview.

The charges were filed under the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention (Amendment) Act 2024.