Justice Chizoba Orji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, has granted the Federal Government’s request to shift the hearing in the alleged criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to February 23, 2026.
The case was filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ehiogie West Idahosa (SAN), announced his appearance and pointed out that the prosecution was absent.
Justice Orji informed the court that she had received a letter from the prosecution requesting an adjournment. The letter was handed to Idahosa, who insisted he was never served.
Idahosa told the court that although the letter was registered and filed earlier on Monday, it did not meet the procedural requirement that notices of this nature be brought to the defence at least 48 hours before the sitting.
He urged the court to proceed with the day’s hearing since the defendant was present, insisting that the adjournment request was incompetent. The court had scheduled the day for hearing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection.
In her ruling, Justice Orji agreed that the adjournment request fell short of the required standard but decided to grant it in the interest of justice. She rejected the defence’s plea to continue with the hearing and adjourned the matter to February 23 next year.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a criminal defamation charge following her allegation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello plotted to kill her.
In her preliminary objection, she is challenging the AGF’s decision to file two similar charges against her at the same time.
However, the prosecution, in a counter-affidavit, faulted her argument. It insisted that the cases filed at the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja did not amount to an abuse of court process.
The prosecution argued that the three-count charge before the FCT High Court was filed after a thorough investigation established a case against her.
According to the prosecution, the charge, brought under the Penal Code, was filed in the lawful exercise of the AGF’s constitutional prosecutorial powers.
It added that the defendant’s alleged actions violated the Penal Code and that all petitions she submitted were fully investigated before charges were initiated. The prosecution further maintained that the case was filed in the public interest, in the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal processes, stressing that it was consistent with the law and did not amount to an abuse of power.
What you should know
The criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been postponed to 2026 despite procedural flaws in the prosecution’s adjournment request.
While the defence challenges the duplication of charges, the Federal Government maintains that its actions were lawful and justified after thorough investigations.
