The trial of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, has been stalled due to an objection raised by the defendant.
The senator is on trial over cybercrime charges brought against her by the federal government before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The trial’s scheduled commencement followed her arraignment on June 30 on a six-count charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar.
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Justice Mohammed Umar had previously adjourned the case to September 22.
During the proceedings on Monday, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe, stated that the business of the day was for the prosecution to open its case by calling its first witness.
Kaswe said the prosecution was ready to proceed and even had a television screen mounted in the courtroom preparatory to the commencement of proceedings.
In response, the defense lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), expressed concern about the possibility of the prosecution opening its case.
He said his client had filed a notice of preliminary objection to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
West-Idahosa specified that the objection was not to the nature of the charge, but the alleged abuse of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
The defense lawyer also complained about not being served with copies of the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
Although Kaswe argued that the objection should not be allowed to stall the trial, Justice Umar insisted that the prosecution must first respond to the objection.
The judge said he intended to first, determine the objection raised by the defence before taking any further steps in the case.
He then subsequently fixed October 20 to hear the objection.
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