The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has again adjourned the defamation trial of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended Kogi Central Senator, following her legal team’s challenge to the competence of the charges filed against her.
The case was adjourned to October 27, 2025, for the hearing of the objections.
This is the second adjournment in 24 hours in the case, which involves allegations that the senator defamed the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adosa Bello.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel from the Ministry of Justice, David Kaswe, announced readiness to begin trial and presented his first witness, Superintendent of Police Abdulhafeez Garba.
However, the move was opposed by the defence, led by Ehighioge West-Idahosa, SAN, who informed the court of a pending motion challenging both the jurisdiction of the court and the competence of the charges.
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West-Idahosa argued that the charges constituted an abuse of prosecutorial power, noting that the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) had filed similar charges on the same subject matter before both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court.
Although the prosecution initially contested whether the AGF had been properly served with the motion, Justice Chizoba Orji confirmed from court records that service had been effected.
The government’s lawyer later acknowledged that the AGF, being out of the country, had not reviewed the motion.
In the interest of a fair hearing, Justice Orji ruled that the trial could not proceed until the AGF responded to the motion.
The case was adjourned to October 27, 2025, for the hearing of the objections.
Security was heightened at the court as about 2,000 supporters accompanied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, posing crowd control challenges for security personnel.
She was first arraigned on June 19, 2025, on a three-count charge of criminal defamation.
The charges, filed by the AGF, stem from statements made during a television interview, in which she allegedly accused Senator Akpabio and former Governor Bello of plotting to kill her, and linked Akpabio to the death of Miss Imoren Iniobong.
She pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted bail for ₦50 million, with one surety who must own property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The outcome of the October hearing will determine whether the trial proceeds or is dismissed on legal grounds.
