The Federal High Court in Abuja has pushed back Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan‘s cybercrime trial to February 4, 2026.
The hearing scheduled for Monday didn’t happen because Justice Mohammed Umar was absent.
It’s just the latest setback in a case that’s been plagued by delays.
The trial was supposed to go ahead on October 21, but a protest calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s release disrupted court operations that day.
According to Linda Ikeji Blog, Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing six charges filed on June 30 by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
She was granted bail soon after and the trial was originally supposed to start on September 22.
That day, the prosecution was ready to call its first witness, they’d even set up a TV screen in the courtroom.
But the senator’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Ehiogie West-Idahosa, immediately raised objections.
West-Idahosa argued the trial shouldn’t proceed because the defense had already filed a notice challenging whether the court even has jurisdiction to hear the case.
He also accused the prosecution of misusing the Attorney General’s powers and said the defense hadn’t been given statements from prosecution witnesses, as required by law.
Despite pushback from prosecutors, Justice Umar agreed the court needed to settle the preliminary objection first before hearing any witnesses. He told the prosecution to file a formal response.
The charges stem from the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, etc. (Amendment) Act 2024.
Prosecutors claim the senator knowingly spread false and harmful information intended to stir up unrest and threaten public order.
Specifically, they allege that on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of instructing former Governor Yahaya Bello to assassinate her.
She’s also accused of repeating the claim during a TV interview, saying both men plotted to kill her.
The case is now set to resume in February, when the court will finally be expected to start the actual trial.
