- The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the cybercrime trial of suspended Kogi Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to October 20, 2025, after her defence team challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
- She faces six charges under the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, over statements allegedly implicating Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello in threats to her life.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the cybercrime trial of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to October 20, 2025, after her defence team challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, arraigned on June 30 and granted bail on self-recognition, faces a six-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024.
One of the counts alleged: “That on or about April 1, 2025, while addressing a crowd at Ihima Community, Kogi State, you — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan — intentionally caused the following communication to be transmitted via a computer system and network, to wit: ‘…and Akpabio told Yahaya Bello, I am saying, standing by what I have said. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done here, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me here…’ And you… knew this contained a threat that could harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, as the President of the Senate…”
Another charge stated the same words but linked the alleged threat to “Yahaya Adoza Bello, a former Governor of Kogi State.”
At Monday’s sitting, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe announced readiness to proceed, saying the first witness was present and a television screen mounted in court. But Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), objected, arguing it was an abuse of the Attorney-General’s powers and that the defence had not been served witness statements.
Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that the objection must first be resolved before trial, and adjourned the case to October 20.
