Fg Insists Senator Natasha Violated Penal Code, Says Defamation Charges Must Stand
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the federal government has maintained that the criminal defamation charges filed against senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan were properly instituted in accordance with the provisions of the penal code law of nigeria and the 1999 constitution.
OTN News further reports as gathered that in its formal response to the senator’s preliminary objection before the federal capital territory (fct) high court in maitama, the office of the attorney general of the federation (agf) and minister of justice insisted that Akpoti-uduaghan, who represents Kogi central senatorial district, must face trial for allegedly making defamatory and false statements against senate president, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello.
OTN News observes that the charges arose from petitions filed by Akpabio and Bello after the senator publicly accused them of conspiring to assassinate her and linking Akpabio to the death of miss Iniobong Umoren.
In a counter-affidavit filed before justice Chizoba Oji, the agf’s office argued that the prosecution was initiated after a comprehensive police investigation that reviewed all petitions from both the complainants and the defendant.
“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,” the government stated.
It added that the charges were filed “in the public interest, the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process,” insisting that the case was neither politically motivated nor an abuse of prosecutorial powers.
“The criminal charge against the defendant arose from a comprehensive and conclusive investigation of the case, including all petitions and parties involved, by the nigeria police force,” the agf’s office stated further.
However, the defence counsel, Ehighioge West-idahosa (san), filed a preliminary objection challenging the validity of the charges.
He argued that the agf had exceeded its constitutional authority, describing the prosecution as an abuse of process.
According to him, the objection does not dispute the facts of the case but questions the legality and jurisdiction of the agf to initiate the charges. the objection, filed on september 18, came up for hearing on monday but could not proceed due to issues with the service of the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
Prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe informed the court that the document had been delivered to the wrong address and requested a short adjournment to correct the error.
“it would not be fair for the prosecution to proceed when the defence has indicated its intention to respond to our counter,” Kaswe said.
Responding, West-idahosa confirmed that the defence had not received the document and requested a longer adjournment, citing plans by the defence team to attend the international bar association (iba) conference in Canada.
OTN News gathered that after hearing both sides, justice Oji adjourned the matter to december 1, 2025, for the hearing of the preliminary objection.
OTN News observes that the case, marked fct/hc/cr/297/25, accuses senator akpoti-uduaghan of making defamatory statements against Akpabio and Bello.
The senator, who was arraigned on june 19, has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
However, the court is expected to first determine the legality of the charges before proceeding to trial.
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