Daniel Otera
A fresh twist has emerged in the high-profile defamation case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, postponed the hearing of her preliminary objection to December 1, 2025. The delay, which legal observers say could reshape the trajectory of the case, stems from procedural lapses in serving court documents.
The senator, who represents Kogi Central, is facing a three-count criminal charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The charges, marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, accuse her of making “harmful imputations” against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. Among the allegations is a claim that both men conspired to assassinate her a statement the prosecution argues was made with intent to damage their reputations.
She is also alleged to have linked Akpabio to the tragic death of Miss Iniobong Umoren, a case that drew national outrage in 2021. Akpoti-Uduaghan has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At the heart of Monday’s proceedings was a preliminary objection filed by her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ehighioge West-Idahosa. The objection challenges the legitimacy of the charges, arguing that the Attorney-General’s office overstepped its prosecutorial bounds.
“This is not about the substance of the allegations,” West-Idahosa told the court. “It’s a threshold jurisdictional matter. We are questioning whether the Attorney-General has the authority to initiate this prosecution under the circumstances.”
The defence had served the objection on the AGF’s office as far back as September 18, but no counter-response had been received until Monday’s hearing. Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe admitted that although the response had been filed with the court, it was mistakenly served to an address not linked to any of the defence lawyers.
“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter proceed when the defence team has indicated its intention to respond to our counter,” Kaswe said, requesting a short adjournment to correct the error.
West-Idahosa confirmed the oversight, stating, “The prosecution’s counter was not served on any of the defendant’s lawyers. We intend to respond when we are properly served, as we have additional evidence to file.”
He also asked the court for a longer adjournment, citing the defence team’s upcoming participation in the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
Justice Chizoba Oji, after hearing both sides, granted the adjournment and fixed December 1 for the hearing of the objection.