Court moves Sen. Natasha’s defamation trial to Feb. 23 after FG seeks adjournment
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama has shifted the criminal defamation proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to February 23, 2026, following a request from the Federal Government for more time.
Justice Chizoba Orji granted the adjournment on Monday, despite objections from the defence team, which argued that the prosecution failed to properly notify them of its intention to seek a new date.
At the resumed sitting, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lead counsel, Ehiogie West Idahosa (SAN), informed the court that no representative from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation—prosecuting the matter—was in attendance.
The judge then disclosed that she had received a letter earlier that morning in which the prosecution asked for the case to be rescheduled.
The letter was handed over to Idahosa, who acknowledged it but complained that it did not meet the 48-hour notice requirement stipulated for such applications.
He urged the court to proceed with the hearing of the senator’s preliminary objection since both the defendant and her legal team were present.
Although Justice Orji agreed that the government’s request fell short of procedural expectations, she ruled that an adjournment was still appropriate “in the interest of justice,” declining the defence’s plea to continue with the day’s agenda.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a three-count charge brought by the AGF’s office relating to her allegation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello attempted to have her assassinated. She maintains that the charges amount to political persecution.
Her preliminary objection challenges the government’s decision to initiate similar criminal proceedings simultaneously at both the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court.
The defence argues that this constitutes an abuse of court process.
However, in a counter-affidavit, federal prosecutors rejected that position, insisting that the matters before the two courts are not duplicative.
They said the FCT charge was filed only after thorough investigations confirmed that the senator’s statements amounted to criminal defamation under the Penal Code.
The prosecution further argued that the AGF acted within constitutional powers and that the case was initiated in the public interest to prevent misuse of the legal system.
The hearing will now continue on February 23, 2026, where the court is expected to address the senator’s objection before trial can proceed.
