The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has shifted the defamation case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to December 1, following a delay in the exchange of court documents.
Justice Chizoba Oji announced the new date on Monday, October 27, after the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, revealed that although the prosecution had filed its response to the senator’s preliminary objection, it was mistakenly served to the wrong address and never reached the defence team.
“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter proceed when the defence team has indicated its intention to respond to our counter,” Kaswe told the court. “We are, therefore, asking for a short adjournment to enable us to effect proper service.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing a three-count charge of alleged defamation filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The case, marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, accuses her of making damaging claims against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, including allegations that both men conspired to harm her and that Akpabio was linked to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.
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The senator was arraigned on June 19 and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Her counsel, Ehighioge West-Idahosa, said during an earlier hearing that his client had filed a preliminary objection challenging the legality of the charges, arguing that the Attorney-General’s Office had abused its prosecutorial powers. He called it a “threshold jurisdictional matter.”
At Monday’s session, West-Idahosa confirmed the defence had not been served with the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
He also asked for a long adjournment, noting that members of his legal team were set to travel for the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
Justice Oji agreed to the request and adjourned the matter to December 1 for hearing on the preliminary objection.