Tension In Court As Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Defamation Case Adjourned To December 1

Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the hearing of a preliminary objection raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her ongoing defamation trial involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to December 1, 2025.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, was arraigned on June 19, 2025, on a three-count charge bordering on harmful imputation, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

In the case marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, the prosecution alleged that the senator made statements she knew could damage the reputations of both Akpabio and Bello. She was accused of claiming that the duo had plotted to kill her and of linking Akpabio to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges during her arraignment.

At Monday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that although the prosecution had filed a counter to the senator’s preliminary objection, it was mistakenly served at the wrong address.

Kaswe, therefore, requested a short adjournment to allow the prosecution to properly serve the defence.

“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist on proceeding since the defence team has indicated their intention to respond to our counter. We are asking for a brief adjournment to enable us to effect proper service,” he said.

In response, the senator’s lead counsel, Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN), confirmed that the prosecution’s counter had not been served on any member of the defence team.

“The prosecution’s response was not served on any of the defendant’s lawyers. We intend to reply once we are properly served, as we have additional evidence to file,” he said.

West-Idahosa also requested a longer adjournment, noting that members of the defence team would be attending the International Bar Association (IBA) annual conference in Canada.

After hearing both parties, Justice Oji adjourned the case to December 1, 2025, for the hearing of the preliminary objection.

At a previous sitting on September 23, West-Idahosa had informed the court that the defence had filed the objection, arguing that the Office of the Attorney-General had abused its prosecutorial powers in instituting the case.

He explained that the objection did not challenge the content of the charges, but rather questioned their validity and jurisdictional basis, describing it as a “threshold jurisdictional matter.”

“The objection was filed and served on the AGF’s office on September 18, but as of that date, no response had been received,” he told the court.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal troubles stem from allegations that she publicly accused Akpabio and Bello of plotting to harm her and of being linked to the death of Iniobong Umoren.

The Office of the AGF subsequently filed a criminal case against her, accusing the lawmaker of defamation and injurious falsehood.

The matter has continued to attract national attention due to the high political profiles of the individuals involved and the constitutional debate over the AGF’s prosecutorial powers.