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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed preliminary objections before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal High Court, contesting criminal defamation charges brought against her by the Federal Government.
The senator described the case as an abuse of power and a calculated attempt at political persecution, insisting the charges stem from frivolous petitions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
Her legal team, led by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria—Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr. E. West-Idahosa, SAN; J.J. Usman, SAN; and M.J. Numa, SAN—argued that the prosecutions are unconstitutional, targeting opposition voices rather than serving public interest or national security. They submitted exhibits showing that the Senator’s statements were within the scope of public discourse and legitimate media commentary.
A central plank of the objection is the argument that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) lacks the legal standing to prosecute defamation cases on behalf of private individuals. The defence stressed that defamation is a civil matter and criminalizing it amounts to intimidation, suppression of free speech, and misuse of the justice system.
Natasha further accused the authorities of selective justice, pointing out that while her petitions over threats to her life were ignored, the complaints of her political rivals were swiftly weaponized against her. She contends that this violates her constitutional rights, particularly under Section 42, which prohibits discriminatory prosecution.
Her lawyers urged the courts to dismiss the cases at the preliminary stage, warning that proceeding with them would erode the integrity of the justice system and waste public resources.
