Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has mounted a fierce legal challenge against the Federal Government, branding the criminal defamation charges filed against her as “a brazen attempt at political persecution.”
Filing preliminary objections before both the High Court of the FCT and the Federal High Court, her legal team argues that the prosecutions — initiated after complaints by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello — are “unconstitutional, frivolous, and designed to intimidate opposition voices.”
Led by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel contends the charges are aimed at shielding private reputations rather than protecting public interest or national security. They submitted exhibits showing that her statements fall squarely within the realm of public discourse and media commentary.
Central to the Senator’s case is the argument that the Attorney-General of the Federation lacks the locus standi to prosecute defamation on behalf of private individuals. Her lawyers maintain that defamation is civil in nature, and any attempt to criminalize it amounts to intimidation, suppression of free speech, and misuse of the justice system.
Senator Natasha also accused the government of selective justice, insisting the charges were filed without proper investigation, even as her own petitions — alleging threats to her life by the complainants — were ignored. She argued this violates Section 42 of the Constitution and constitutes “discriminatory prosecution because of her opposition political affiliation.”
In their final submission, her defence team — Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr. E. West-Idahosa, SAN; J.J. Usman, SAN; and M.J. Numa, SAN — urged the courts to strike out the cases at the preliminary stage, warning that “allowing the prosecutions to proceed would undermine the integrity of the justice system and waste taxpayers’ resources.”
Read more from the source at Advocate.ng: "Senator Natasha Fights Back: Challenges court’s jurisdiction, accuses FG of political witch-hunt
Onshed 14 hours ago News, Politics
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has mounted a fierce legal challenge against the Federal Government, branding the criminal defamation charges filed against her as “a brazen attempt at political persecution.”
Filing preliminary objections before both the High Court of the FCT and the Federal High Court, her legal team argues that the prosecutions — initiated after complaints by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello — are “unconstitutional, frivolous, and designed to intimidate opposition voices.”
Led by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel contends the charges are aimed at shielding private reputations rather than protecting public interest or national security. They submitted exhibits showing that her statements fall squarely within the realm of public discourse and media commentary.
Central to the Senator’s case is the argument that the Attorney-General of the Federation lacks the locus standi to prosecute defamation on behalf of private individuals. Her lawyers maintain that defamation is civil in nature, and any attempt to criminalize it amounts to intimidation, suppression of free speech, and misuse of the justice system.
Senator Natasha also accused the government of selective justice, insisting the charges were filed without proper investigation, even as her own petitions — alleging threats to her life by the complainants — were ignored. She argued this violates Section 42 of the Constitution and constitutes “discriminatory prosecution because of her opposition political affiliation.”
In their final submission, her defence team — Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr. E. West-Idahosa, SAN; J.J. Usman, SAN; and M.J. Numa, SAN — urged the courts to strike out the cases at the preliminary stage, warning that “allowing the prosecutions to proceed would undermine the integrity of the justice system and waste taxpayers’ resources.