By John Umeh
A heated political and legal storm is brewing in Abuja as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan takes on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, alleging that the Federal Government is being used as a tool for political persecution.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has filed two criminal defamation suits against Natasha—one under the Penal Code before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, and another under the Cybercrimes Act at the Federal High Court. Both cases stem from the same set of statements she allegedly made.
Refusing to bow, Natasha has assembled a formidable legal team of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) who filed Preliminary Objections urging the courts to throw out the charges. Her counsel argues that the AGF exceeded his constitutional powers under Section 174(3), which requires him to act strictly in the public interest and prevent abuse of legal process.
“This prosecution is not about justice—it is about shielding the reputations of two powerful politicians at the expense of public funds,” her lawyers stated. They argued that Natasha’s remarks fall under legitimate political debate, citing past media reports and editorials involving both Akpabio and Bello.
Her defence further stressed that defamation, if established, should be a civil matter—not a criminal offence. By pushing criminal charges, they claimed, the government is attempting to intimidate and silence opposition voices.
The Senator also accused the complainants of selective justice, pointing out that her own petitions over alleged threats to her life by the same individuals were ignored. She described the charges as “frivolous, vindictive, and politically motivated,” urging the courts to dismiss them outright.
Legal experts believe the outcome of this case could reshape the boundaries of free speech, opposition politics, and prosecutorial discretion in Nigeria. With four Senior Advocates—Prof. Roland Otaru, Dr. E. West-Idahosa, J.J. Usman, and M.J. Numa—on her side, Natasha is making it clear that this battle is as much about principle as it is about personal survival in Nigeria’s rough political terrain.
