The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the defamation trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to December 1.
Justice Chizoba Oji postponed the hearing after the prosecution failed to properly serve its response to a preliminary objection filed by the defence.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, arraigned on 19 June, faces a three-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, accusing her of making “harmful imputations” against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. She allegedly claimed Akpabio conspired with Bello to kill her and linked him to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren. The senator has pleaded not guilty.
Her lawyer, Ehighioge West-Idahosa, argued that the Attorney-General’s office abused its prosecutorial powers and that the charges were invalid. The defence requested a longer adjournment due to counsel’s planned attendance at the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
Justice Oji granted the adjournment to 1 December for the hearing of the objection.