Court Adjourns Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s Criminal Defamation Trial to February 2026
Justice Chizoba Oji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja, on Monday adjourned the criminal trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan to 23 February 2026, following a request by the prosecution.
Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, is facing prosecution by the Office of the Attorney‑General of the Federation (AGF) on allegations of criminal defamation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel Ehiogie West‑Idahosa, SAN, noted the absence of the prosecution and urged the court to proceed with the scheduled business of the day, which was the hearing of the defendant’s preliminary objection. Justice Oji, however, disclosed that the court had received a letter from the prosecution seeking adjournment. The letter, filed that same morning, had not been served on the defence within the statutory 48‑hour period.
While acknowledging that the adjournment request did not meet procedural requirements, Justice Oji nonetheless granted it “in the interest of justice” and declined to entertain the preliminary objection.
The defendant, accompanied by her husband Emmanuel Uduaghan, is challenging the competence of the AGF in filing two similar charges simultaneously before the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja. In its counter‑affidavit, the prosecution maintains that the charges do not amount to an abuse of court process.
