Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Monday adjourned hearing on a preliminary objection filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she is contesting the authority of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on harmful imputation and defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. She was arraigned on June 19 and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution alleges that the senator claimed Akpabio and Bello conspired to kill her and further linked Akpabio to the death of a woman, Miss Iniobong Imoren—statements they say she knew would damage their reputations.
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the matter had been slated for hearing of the defendant’s preliminary objection. He, however, admitted that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit to the objection, though filed in court, had been served to an incorrect address and was not received by any of the defence counsel.
Kaswe therefore requested a short adjournment to enable proper service on the defence, stating that it would be unfair for the matter to proceed under the circumstances.
Counsel to the defendant, Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN), confirmed that the defence team had not received the prosecution’s response and reiterated its intention to reply once properly served. He also requested a longer adjournment, noting that members of the defence team would be attending the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Canada.
After listening to both parties, Justice Oji adjourned the hearing on the preliminary objection to 1 December.
At the previous sitting on September 23, West-Idahosa informed the court that the defence had filed a preliminary objection on grounds that the AGF’s office was abusing its prosecutorial powers. He said the objection was not a challenge to the evidence in the case, but to the validity of the charges and the court’s jurisdiction.
