Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan escalated her clash with Nigeria’s political elite on Monday, filing Preliminary Objections in two courts to stop what she denounces as a “brazen political witch-hunt” by the Federal Government.
Petitions from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello sparked the twin criminal defamation suits—one in the FCT High Court and the other in the Federal High Court—each rooted in the same remarks attributed to Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Supported by a formidable legal team of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Akpoti-Uduaghan is disputing the courts’ jurisdiction and charges the AGF with abusing his powers and misusing public funds to safeguard the reputations of Akpabio and Bello.
“This prosecution serves no public good—it merely shields the private reputations of two influential individuals using public resources,” her filing reads in part.
The defence insisted that defamation is a civil matter, not a criminal offence, warning that criminalizing such disputes is “an intimidation tactic designed to silence opposition voices.” Exhibits submitted to the court reportedly show similar criticisms of Akpabio and Bello appearing in newspapers and online platforms without prior government action—evidence, the Senator argues, that the case is politically motivated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused the government of selective justice. While her own petitions alleging threats to her life by the same complainants were allegedly ignored, the AGF swiftly pursued charges against her—behavior she said violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on political affiliation or opinion.
Her legal team—Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr. E. West-Idahosa, SAN; J.J. Usman, SAN; and M.J. Numa, SAN—has urged both courts to dismiss the cases at the preliminary stage, warning that proceeding would undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.
“Selective prosecution for political speech undermines democracy and threatens free expression,” the Senator said after filing.
If the courts side with Akpoti-Uduaghan, the rulings could set a powerful precedent for free speech and limits on prosecutorial discretion in Nigeria’s increasingly heated political climate.