By Prosper Mene
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the cybercrime trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan until February 4, 2026, after Justice Mohammed Umar failed to appear for the scheduled hearing on Monday.
The delay, the third in as many months, has fueled accusations of judicial foot-dragging in what critics call a politically motivated prosecution aimed at silencing a vocal female lawmaker.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, the firebrand senator representing Kogi Central, faces six counts under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
The charges come from a viral June 2024 video in which she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to orchestrate her assassination. Prosecutors claim her statements were “false and injurious,” designed to malign reputations, incite unrest, and endanger lives, offenses punishable by up to 10 years in prison and hefty fines.
The 43-year-old senator, known for her unapologetic advocacy on women’s rights and anti-corruption crusades, was arraigned on June 30 and granted bail shortly after. What should have been a swift trial has devolved into a saga of postponements: September 22’s hearing was derailed by a preliminary objection from her defense team challenging the court’s jurisdiction; October 21 fell victim to chaotic protests outside the court led by activist Omoyele Sowore demanding the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu; and now, the judge’s unexplained absence has kicked the can down the road for over two months.
Courtroom drama unfolded even in Umar’s absence. A television screen, prepared for video evidence playback, sat idly as lawyers clashed over the pending objection. Defense counsel Peter Olorunnishola urged the court to resolve the jurisdictional challenge first, arguing it strikes at the prosecution’s foundation. Prosecutor D.E. Kaswe, pushing to proceed, countered that the objection shouldn’t halt proceedings, but Umar’s prior ruling, insisting on a formal response, held sway, showing the judge’s intent to clear procedural hurdles before diving into evidence.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, poised and defiant in a tailored suit, declined immediate comment outside the courtroom, but her allies wasted no time. “This is persecution, not justice,” thundered Sowore on X, vowing renewed protests if delays persist. Supporters, including civil society groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), decry the Cybercrimes Act as a draconian tool for muzzling dissent, especially against women in politics who dare to name powerful men. Akpabio’s office has dismissed the allegations as “baseless fabrications,” while Bello’s camp remains silent.
The senator’s journey to the spotlight has been anything but smooth. A Delta State native who clinched her Senate seat in a bruising 2023 rerun amid vote-rigging claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan has clashed repeatedly with establishment figures, earning her the moniker “iron lady of Kogi politics.” Her cybercrime saga, they argue, is payback for exposing alleged corruption in the National Assembly and challenging patriarchal gatekeepers.
Legal observers warn that the extended adjournment could erode public trust in Nigeria’s judiciary, already battered by backlog scandals. “Adjourning to 2026 on a non-complex case like this raises red flags about external pressures,” said a source close to the bench, speaking anonymously. The next hearing promises fireworks: resolution of the objection, potential witness testimonies, and perhaps a deeper probe into the video’s origins.
