The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has stated that the defamation charges it filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan were justified because her conduct and actions against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello violated the penal code.
The AGF made this statement in response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection to three allegations of damaging imputation and defamation filed against her.
The allegations resulted from complaints by Akpabio and Bello, who cited the senator’s claim of an assassination attempt.
Natasha was arraigned on June 19 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where she pleaded not guilty.
She then filed a preliminary objection, asking the court to reject the charges against her.
Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the preliminary objection hearing to December 1 after the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that, although the hearing was scheduled, the prosecution was unable to serve its response on the defense.
In a counter-affidavit filed by the AGF’s office, the prosecution requested that the court reject Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection.
The prosecution stated, “The three counts were preferred against the defendant pursuant to the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the bona fide exercise of the prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and in the best interest of justice.
“The actions and conduct of the defendant/applicant contravened the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The criminal charge against the defendant arose from the comprehensive and conclusive investigation of the case, including all petitions and parties involved, by the Nigeria Police Force.
“All the petitions filed by the defendant were duly investigated, and charges were filed at the FCT High Court against her colleague, a senator.
“The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation filed the criminal charge against the defendant after due consideration of the public interest, the interest of justice, and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.
“The charge against the defendant is consistent with extant laws and does not constitute an abuse of the legal or prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation,” the prosecution stated.
In the accusation marked FCT/HC/CR/297/25, Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of making false imputations that she knew would hurt Akpabio’s image by saying that he colluded with former governor Bello to assassinate her.
She was also accused of making similar accusations against Bello and Akpabio, claiming that he was responsible for the murder of Miss Iniobong Umoren.
At the latest session on September 23, defense counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN) notified the court that the defendant had filed a notice of preliminary objection, claiming that the Attorney-General’s Office had abused its prosecutorial powers.
According to him, the opposition disputed the charges’ legitimacy rather than their substance, referring to it as a “threshold jurisdictional matter.”
He noted that the preliminary objection was delivered to the AGF’s office on September 18, but no answer had been received.
At Monday’s resumed hearing, Kaswe informed the court that the address where the prosecution’s counter-affidavit was served did not belong to any of the defense counsel, and he requested a brief adjournment to allow appropriate service.
“It would not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter proceed when the defense team has indicated its intention to respond to our counter,” Kaswe said. “We are, therefore, asking for a short adjournment to enable us to effect proper service.”
West-Idahosa responded, confirming that the defense had not received the prosecution’s response and that none of the defendant’s lawyers had been served.
“The prosecution’s counter was not served on any of the defense lawyers. We intend to respond when we are properly served, as we have additional evidence to file,” the senior advocate stated.
The defense team requested a long adjournment to attend the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
Justice Oji heard both parties and adjourned the preliminary objection hearing until December 1.
