Natasha Akpoti’s cybercrime trial stalled by judge’s absence, as court adjourns to February 4, 2026

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on alleged cybercrime offences to February 4, 2026, following the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.

The case had been scheduled to begin today, but proceedings could not hold.

This is the second time the matter has been delayed, as it also did not proceed on October 21 due to a protest led by Omoyele Sowore demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, recently convicted of terrorism offences.

The trial was earlier fixed for September 22 but was stalled after the defence raised a preliminary objection.

Read also: Senator Natasha Uduaghan: An icon of selfless leadership

Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, and was granted bail, with the trial set for September 22.

On the last adjourned date, as David Kaswe, prosecuting counsel prepared to call the first witness after a television screen had been set up in the courtroom the defence objected.

Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, lead defence counsel informed the court that a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction had been filed.

He argued that the objection was not about the charges themselves but about an alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

He also said the defence had not been served with the statements of prosecution witnesses.

Although the prosecution urged the court to proceed, Justice Umar ruled that the preliminary objection must first be determined before the trial could continue.

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

She is alleged to have accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of directing former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello to have her killed claims she is also said to have repeated in a television interview.

The charge was brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

With the judge absent on Monday, the court has now fixed February 4, 2026, for the trial to begin.