Court postpones Natasha’s defamation objection against Akpabio, Yahaya Bello

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, postponed until December 1 the hearing of a preliminary objection filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in her ongoing trial for alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the matter after the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that although the case was listed for the hearing of the objection, the prosecution had yet to serve its response on the defence team.

Kaswe, however, told the court that the response had already been filed.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was first arraigned before the court on June 19 on a three-count charge bordering on harmful imputation, filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

According to the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, the senator allegedly made damaging claims about Akpabio and Bello, accusing themn of conspiring to kill her. She was also said to have made another statement linking Akpabio to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.

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She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At the previous sitting on September 23, defence counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa informed the court that the defence had filed a notice of preliminary objection, arguing that the Attorney-General’s Office had abused its prosecutorial powers.

He clarified that the objection did not challenge the substance of the case but questioned its validity, describing it as a “threshold jurisdictional matter.”

West-Idahosa added that the objection had been served on the AGF’s office on September 18 but that no response had been received at the time.

During Monday’s proceedings, Kaswe explained that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit had been served at an address that did not belong to any of the defence lawyers, and he therefore sought a short adjournment to enable proper service.

“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. We are, therefore, asking for a short adjournment to enable us to effect proper service,” Kaswe said.

Responding, West-Idahosa confirmed that the defence had not received the prosecution’s response.

“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,” the senior advocate stated.

He also urged the court to allow a longer adjournment, citing that members of the defence team would be attending this year’s International Bar Association Conference in Canada.

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