Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has initiated a legal challenge against the Federal Government, alleging abuse of power. The senator has characterized the criminal defamation charges brought against her as a blatant attempt at political persecution.

Her legal team, comprising four Senior Advocates of Nigeria—Prof. Roland Otaru, Dr. E. West-Idahosa, J.J. Usman, and M.J. Numa—has filed preliminary objections before both the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal High Court. They contend that the prosecutions, which were instigated following complaints from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello, are unconstitutional, frivolous, and designed to suppress dissenting voices.

The charges are based on statements allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. Her defense emphasizes that these prosecutions serve to protect the private reputations of the complainants rather than upholding public interest or national security. Exhibits were also presented to demonstrate that the statements in question fall within the scope of public discourse and media commentary.

A primary argument from the senator’s legal counsel is that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) lacks the legal authority to prosecute defamation on behalf of private individuals. They further argue that defamation is fundamentally a civil matter, and its criminalization represents intimidation, an infringement on free speech, and a misuse of the criminal justice system.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel also highlighted what they perceive as selective enforcement of justice. They noted that the charges were filed without proper investigation, contrasting sharply with the alleged disregard of her own petitions concerning threats to her life by the very complainants. This, they argue, violates her constitutional rights, specifically Section 42, and constitutes discriminatory prosecution due to her affiliation with the opposition political party. The legal team has urged the courts to dismiss the cases at this preliminary stage, cautioning that allowing them to proceed would compromise the integrity of the justice system and squander taxpayer resources.