The cybercrime trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, was stalled on Monday after her legal team objected to the court’s jurisdiction.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count charge related to cybercrime.
After pleading not guilty, she was granted bail and the trial was initially scheduled to begin on September 22.
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel David Kaswe informed the court of his readiness to present the first witness, stating that the necessary equipment, including a television, had been set up for evidence display.
However, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, raised a preliminary objection on her behalf, contesting the court’s jurisdiction.
He clarified that the objection was not aimed at the content of the charges but rather addressed an “abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).”
The defence also raised concerns over the non-service of prosecution witness statements.
Although Kaswe urged the court to proceed despite the objection, presiding judge Mohammed Umar ruled that the jurisdictional challenge must be addressed first.
He adjourned the matter to October 20 for hearing on the application.
According to the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of transmitting false and harmful information electronically with intent to malign, incite unrest, and endanger lives.
One of the allegations claims that, during an April 4, 2025 gathering in Ihima, Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had directed former governor Yahaya Bello “to have her killed” during a political tour.
She is also alleged to have repeated these claims in a televised interview, asserting that both the senate president and the former Kogi governor plotted to kill her in the state.