The Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja has shifted the trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on alleged cybercrime against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to February 4, 2026.
The adjournment of the excessive profile trial adopted the absence of Justice Mohammed Umar in courtroom on Monday who was mentioned to have gone on an official project exterior Abuja.
It will likely be recalled that the identical trial was aborted on September 22 due to the protest organised by Omoyele Sowore to demand the discharge of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained chief of the proscribed Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Umar’s courtroom, on the third ground of the high-rise constructing, was then put beneath lock and key as courtroom actions had been crippled.
The matter was, nonetheless, mounted for November 24 when actions on the courtroom resumed on Tuesday.
Nonetheless, at this Monday’s proceedings, an official of the courtroom knowledgeable the legal professionals and litigants that the courtroom wouldn’t be sitting on the bottom that the Choose was engaged in an official project.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count cost filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar.
She was granted bail, following which Justice Umar adjourned until September 22 for the graduation of trial.
Nonetheless, on the final adjourned date when the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe, was about to open his case by calling the first witness, the defence lawyer raised an objection.
The event was after a tv display screen had been mounted within the courtroom preparatory to the graduation of proceedings.
The defence lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, had expressed concern about the potential for the prosecution opening its case.
West-Idahosa had advised the courtroom {that a} discover of preliminary objection to problem the courtroom’s jurisdiction to hear the case had already been filed.
He mentioned the objection will not be to the character of the cost, however the alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Lawyer Common of the Federation (AGF).
The lawyer had additionally complained about not being served with copies of the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Though Kaswe had on that day argued that the objection filed by the defendant shouldn’t be allowed to stall the courtroom’s enterprise for the day, Justice Umar insisted that the prosecution should first reply to the objection.
The decide had, nonetheless mentioned he meant to first decide the objection raised by the defence earlier than taking any additional steps within the case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, within the cost marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, is alleged to have transmitted false and injurious data by way of digital means with the intention to malign, incite and endanger lives and breach public order.
The senator was alleged to have, whereas addressing a gathering on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, accused the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of instructing ex-Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi to have her killed within the state.
She was additionally alleged to have, in a tv interview, repeated comparable claims, to the impact that the Senate President and former governor Yahaya Bello plotted to kill her in Kogi.
The cost is introduced beneath the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, (Modification) Act 2024.
