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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on alleged cybercrime charges to November 24.
The trial was scheduled to begin on Monday before Justice Mohammed Umar but was stalled due to a protest at the court premises.
The protest, led by Omoyele Sowore, called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Umar’s courtroom on the third floor of the court complex remained locked, and proceedings were suspended.
The case was rescheduled to November 24 when court activities resumed on Tuesday.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by Mohammed Abubakar, the director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.
She is accused of transmitting false and injurious information electronically, with intent to incite, endanger lives, and disturb public order offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
The charges stem from comments she allegedly made on April 4 in Ihima, Kogi State, where she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of instructing former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to harm her.
She is also alleged to have repeated the claim during a television interview.
Following her arraignment, she was granted bail, and the court initially fixed September 22 for the trial. However, proceedings were halted when her counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
West-Idahosa argued that the case represented an abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation and noted that the defence had not been served witness statements.
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As the prosecution was about to call its first witness, the objection stalled the process.
Justice Umar ruled that the objection must be addressed before the trial could proceed.
With Monday’s disruption, the case has now been adjourned to November 24.
