Daniel Otera
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has launched a legal battle against the Federal Government, labelling the criminal defamation charges filed against her as part of a broader scheme of political persecution.
The outspoken senator, a frequent critic of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, is currently facing six charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges were filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act of 2024, following complaints from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Bello over remarks Akpoti-Uduaghan made in a public address and a television interview. The case has attracted national attention, with opposition figures raising concerns that the proceedings are politically motivated.
At the heart of the case is Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that Akpabio allegedly instructed Bello to have her killed in Kogi State, a statement she made at a public event in Ihima on April 4, 2025, and repeated in a TV interview. The prosecution argues that the remarks were false, malicious, and had the potential to incite violence, thereby endangering lives and disrupting public order.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, led by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), has challenged the jurisdiction of the courts to hear the case. They argue that the Attorney-General of the Federation lacks the authority to prosecute what they describe as a private defamation matter. In their submission, they contend that defamation cases are inherently civil matters and criminalizing them violates the principles of free speech and democratic norms.
In a statement released by her legal team, they asserted, “The charges are unconstitutional, frivolous, and designed to intimidate opposition voices.” They further accused the authorities of selective justice, noting that her previous petitions regarding threats to her life had been ignored, while the charges against her were hastily filed.
The court case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, has seen significant delays, with the matter adjourned to October 20 following an objection raised by her counsel. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s defense team is pushing for the case to be dismissed at the preliminary stage, urging the courts to dismiss the charges to avoid wasting taxpayer funds and tarnishing the integrity of the justice system.