Natasha’s Cybercrime Trial Against Akpabio, Bello Stalls, Moved To Oct 20

The planned commencement of trial in the cybercrime charge brought against suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, before a Federal High Court in Abuja was stalled on Monday, September 22, 2025, following an objection raised by the defendant.

TheMatrix Newspaper reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan was first arraigned on June 30, 2025, on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar and granted bail, following which Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned till September 22, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

However, when the case was called on Monday, prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe told the court that the business of the day was for the prosecution to open its case by calling its first witness.

Kaswe, who had a television screen mounted in the courtroom preparatory to the commencement of proceedings, told the court that the prosecution has a witness in court and was ready to proceed.

Responding, defence lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, expressed concern about the possibility of the prosecution opening its case.

West-Idahosa said his client has filed a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

He said the objection is not to the nature of the charge, but the alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

The defence lawyer also complained about not being served with copies of the statements of the prosecution witnesses.

Although Kaswe argued strenuously that the objection filed by the defendant should not be allowed to stall the court’s business for the day, Justice Umar insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection.

The judge said he intends to first determine the objection raised by the defence before taking any further steps in the case.

He subsequently fixed October 20, 2025, for the hearing of the objection.