The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has defended the defamation charges filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, insisting that her actions and comments against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello breached provisions of the penal code.
The AGF’s position was contained in a counter-affidavit opposing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection to the three-count charge bordering on harmful imputation and defamation. The case arose from petitions by Akpabio and Bello following allegations by the senator that both men plotted to assassinate her.
The senator was arraigned before Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, on June 19, where she pleaded not guilty. She subsequently filed a preliminary objection urging the court to dismiss the charges, which the prosecution has now opposed.
According to the AGF’s office, the charges were filed after a “comprehensive investigation” by the Nigeria Police Force and were brought in the public interest, in line with the constitutional powers of the Attorney General. It maintained that the senator’s conduct contravened the penal code and that the prosecution acted within the bounds of justice and law.
The prosecution’s counter-affidavit read in part: “The criminal charge against the defendant arose from thorough investigations of all petitions by the Nigeria Police Force. The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation filed the charge after due consideration of the public interest, the interest of justice, and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.”
The AGF stressed that the case did not amount to an abuse of prosecutorial power, emphasizing that it was consistent with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan is accused of making statements that allegedly defamed Akpabio and Bello — including claims that both men conspired to assassinate her and that Akpabio was linked to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.
At the last sitting on September 23, the senator’s counsel, Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN), argued that the prosecution had abused its powers, describing the objection as a “threshold jurisdictional matter.” However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the defence had not been properly served with the prosecution’s response, prompting a request for adjournment.
Justice Chizoba Oji, after hearing both parties, adjourned the matter until December 1 for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
