Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has dismissed allegations by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that the criminal charges filed against her were an abuse of court process, insisting that the case was built on verified evidence following a “comprehensive and conclusive investigation.”
In a counter-affidavit filed at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, the AGF’s office maintained that the decision to charge the senator was a lawful exercise of its constitutional powers and in the interest of justice.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, is currently facing two separate criminal charges — one for defamation at the FCT High Court, and another for cybercrime at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The cases stem from her public claims accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to kill her — allegations that the AGF’s office says were found to have “criminal implications.”
According to the court documents, the AGF argued that the defamation charges were brought under the Penal Code Law and were filed “in the bona fide exercise of prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.”
The filing further countered the senator’s claims that her own petitions were ignored, stating that all her petitions were indeed investigated, with findings leading to the filing of charges against another senator.
“The decision to prosecute was reached after due regard to public interest, the interest of justice, and the need to prevent abuse of legal process,” the AGF’s office stated.
When the case was called on Monday before Justice Chizoba Oji, proceedings were briefly delayed due to issues of service. Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that although a counter-affidavit had been filed, the defence team had not yet been properly served.
“It will not be fair for the prosecution to insist the matter goes on when the defence has not received our counter-affidavit,” Kaswe said, requesting a short adjournment.
In response, the senator’s lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), confirmed that service had not been effected and requested a long adjournment, noting that his legal team would be attending the upcoming International Bar Association meeting in Canada.
Justice Oji granted the requests and adjourned the matter to December 1, when both the senator’s preliminary objection and the AGF’s counter-affidavit will be heard.
The development marks the latest turn in a growing legal battle that has drawn attention both within and outside the political class, as observers watch how the judiciary navigates the delicate intersection of free speech, defamation, and political accountability.
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