FG Lawyers Fail to Appear as Court Adjourns Senator Natasha H Akpoti ’s Trial Till 2026

FG Lawyers Fail to Appear as Court Adjourns Senator Natasha H Akpoti ’s Trial Till 2026

The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama has adjourned the criminal defamation suit instituted by the Federal Government against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after government counsel failed to appear on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The case was called for hearing of the senator’s pending preliminary objection when the presiding judge, Justice Chizoba Oji, informed the court that she had received a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) requesting an adjournment of the matter to December 16, 2025.

However, counsel to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), objected strongly, noting that the prosecution failed to serve the defence with the application until that very morning, in clear violation of the mandatory 48-hour minimum notice required under Order 6, Rule 6(3) of the Federal High Court practice directions.

He argued that the late service amounted to a procedural ambush and urged the court to proceed with the business of the day, the hearing of the defence’s preliminary objection challenging the competence of the charges.

Justice Oji acknowledged the procedural flaw and admitted that the adjournment request was “not in compliance with the rules,” but said she would nonetheless accept the letter in the interest of justice due to what she described as the peculiar nature of the matter.

The court rejected the date suggested by the Federal Government and asked the defence to propose a more suitable adjournment date. Following brief consultations, both the defence and the court agreed to February 23, 2026, and the matter was subsequently adjourned accordingly.

The Federal Government filed a three-count charge of criminal defamation against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations she made claiming that high-ranking political figures plotted to kill her. The senator has pleaded not guilty and filed a preliminary objection arguing that the charges constitute an abuse of court process.

The defence insists that duplicative filings in different courts amount to harassment and a violation of constitutional rights, while the prosecution maintains that a thorough investigation produced a legitimate case worthy of trial.

The next sitting scheduled for February 23, 2026, will determine whether the preliminary objection succeeds.

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