NIGERIA: Court Adjourns Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Defamation Trial To February 23, 2026

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday adjourned further hearing in the criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) until February 23, 2026.

Justice Chizoba Oji granted an adjournment request from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which is prosecuting the senator on a three-count charge of criminal defamation.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of alleging that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to assassinate her.

The senator had filed a preliminary objection, challenging the AGF’s decision to file two similar cases against her in both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court, describing it as an abuse of court process.

During Monday’s proceedings, defence counsel Ehiogie West Idahosa complained that the prosecution team was absent and had not served the defence with the adjournment letter at least 48 hours earlier as required by law.

Although Justice Oji agreed that the prosecution breached the mandatory notice rule, she ruled that adjourning the case was in the interest of justice and declined to hear the preliminary objection in the absence of the prosecution.

The senator, who was present in court with her husband, will now return on February 23, 2026 for continuation of the trial.