The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has defended the defamation charges filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that her actions against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello violated the Penal Code.
The AGF’s statement came in response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection to three counts of harmful imputation and defamation filed against her. The charges followed complaints from Akpabio and Bello, related to the senator’s allegation of an assassination attempt.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 19 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where she pleaded not guilty. She subsequently filed a preliminary objection seeking dismissal of the charges.
On Monday, Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned proceedings to December 1 to hear the objection, after prosecuting counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution had not yet been able to serve its response on the defence.
In a counter-affidavit, the AGF’s office urged the court to reject Akpoti-Uduaghan’s objection, stating:
“The three counts were filed pursuant to the Penal Code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the bona fide exercise of the prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney-General, and in the best interest of justice. The defendant’s actions contravened the Penal Code, following a comprehensive investigation by the Nigeria Police Force. All petitions were duly examined before charges were filed to prevent abuse of legal process.”
The charge (FCT/HC/CR/297/25) alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan made harmful imputations she knew could damage the reputations of Akpabio and Bello, including claims that Akpabio conspired with Bello to have her killed. She is also accused of linking Akpabio to the death of Miss Iniobong Umoren.
At a previous sitting on September 23, defence counsel Ehighioge West-Idahosa (SAN) stated that the preliminary objection did not dispute the substance of the charges but challenged their validity as a “threshold jurisdictional matter.” He noted that the objection had been served on the AGF on September 18, but no response had been received.
On Monday, Kaswe told the court that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit had been served to the wrong address and requested a short adjournment to enable proper service. West-Idahosa confirmed that the defence had not received the response and asked for a longer adjournment due to members attending the International Bar Association Conference in Canada.
After hearing both sides, Justice Oji adjourned the hearing of the preliminary objection to December 1.
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