The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the dismissal of the six-count charge filed against her by the Federal Government of Nigeria, describing the case as an abuse of prosecutorial power, a violation of due process, and an attempt to shield the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, from public scrutiny.
In her motion filed through her legal team, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the court to quash the charges on the grounds that they were not instituted in the public interest, but rather to protect the private and political interests of Akpabio and Bello. She argued that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) acted contrary to the constitutional principles guiding the exercise of prosecutorial powers under Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to her, the said provision mandates the AGF to act only in “public interest, the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process.” However, she maintained that the prosecution against her “serves no public purpose” and amounts to “a gross abuse of legal authority.”
In her supporting affidavit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that the six-count charge, initiated on May 22, 2025, was filed in bad faith, emphasizing that the alleged defamatory statements cited in the charge were directed at Senator Akpabio and Yahaya Bello in their personal capacities, and not in their official roles.
She further argued that the petitions and circumstances leading to her prosecution stemmed from personal and political rivalry, offering “no benefit to the Nigerian public.” She asserted that the case represents a misuse of public resources to settle personal scores and shield individuals with questionable reputations from criticism.
The motion stated in part:
“The charges contained in the information before this Honourable Court violate the principles enshrined in Section 174(3) of the Constitution and amount to an abuse of legal process. The Attorney General of the Federation has acted beyond his powers, and the continuation of this charge would occasion a miscarriage of justice.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also contended that the charges were discriminatory, premature, and in violation of her fundamental rights, insisting that her expressions were rooted in public interest and supported by documented evidence of alleged misconduct and violence linked to Senator Akpabio during his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
In her affidavit, the lawmaker attached several past media publications as corroborative evidence, describing them as “public records that reveal the true nature of the person of the Senate President.”
Among the publications cited are:
· Concord Newspaper of August 15, 2012: “Bizarre! Occultic Kingdom Exposes Akpabio, Writes President Jonathan: Why They Killed Barr. Effang’s Mum and Brother.”
· Concord Newspaper of September 15, 2012: “Murders in Akwa Ibom; Families and NGOs Prepare Cases Against Akpabio.”
· Concord Newspaper of December 21, 2011: “Exposed – Grace Anwana’s Death: Akpabio’s Connection. Akpabio is a Dictator, He Did Not Win the Election – Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN).”
· Concord Editorial of March 25, 2015: “Political Killings: The Hallmark of the Akpabio Era.”
· Sahara Reporters of June 14, 2011: Dr. Ime Umana’s open letter titled “Why Does Dr. Godswill Akpabio Want to Kill Me?”
· Vanguard Newspaper of March 25, 2025, quoting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as accusing Akpabio of corruption and abuse of women.
· Premium Times of January 22, 2022: Interview with Mr. James Iniama titled “How Akwa Ibom Became a Killing Field Under Akpabio.”
· The WILL News of November 11, 2013: “Ethnic Vengeance: Why Akpabio Tortures the Ibibios.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that these documented reports, widely published and unchallenged, portray Akpabio as “a dangerous political figure” with “a long trail of violence, intimidation, and corruption” behind him.
She stressed that neither Senator Akpabio nor the relevant law enforcement agencies ever sought legal redress over the serious allegations raised in those publications, a silence she described as “tacit admission.”
“It is clear that the attempt to prosecute me is not driven by the need to protect the law or national interest, but to defend the reputation of individuals whose public records have long been stained by documented atrocities,” she stated.
The Kogi Central Senator therefore urged the court to dismiss the case in its entirety, warning that proceeding with the matter would amount to a miscarriage of justice and a blatant abuse of judicial process.
She concluded that recent developments — particularly the conduct of Senator Akpabio’s sister-in-law, Pat Akpabio — “further verify and strengthen” the allegations against the Senate President, reinforcing the claim that “he remains a man with a dangerous past and compromised moral standing.”
