Senator Natasha’s Cybercrime Trial Stalled, as Judge Fails to Sit

• The cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was again stalled on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of the presiding judge, forcing the matter to be shifted to February 4, 2025.

The trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on allegations of cybercrime was on Monday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja following the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.

The matter, earlier scheduled for hearing, has now been adjourned to February 4, 2025 for the commencement of trial.

This marks yet another delay in the proceedings. The case had similarly failed to proceed on October 21, after activists led by Mr. Omoyele Sowore staged a protest at the court premises demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, recently convicted of terrorism offences.

Justice Umar had previously fixed October 21 after proceedings were stalled on September 22 due to a preliminary objection raised by the defence.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on six counts filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar.
The charges arose from petitions by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

She was granted bail, and the matter was adjourned to September 22 for trial.

At the resumed sitting on that date, as prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, prepared to call the first witness after a television screen had been mounted in the courtroom, defence counsel Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) objected to the commencement of trial.

He informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction, alleging an abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
He also stated that he had not been served with the statements of the prosecution witnesses.

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Although Kaswe urged the court to proceed, Justice Umar ruled that the prosecution must first respond to the objection, insisting he intended to address that issue before taking further steps.

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

The senator is alleged to have, on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, accused Akpabio of directing ex-governor Bello to have her killed—an allegation she is also said to have repeated in a television interview.

The charges are brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.