By Ayomide Otitoju
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has dismissed claims by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that the charges filed against her at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja, constitute an abuse of court process.
According to a statement, the AGF’s office said the charges were filed following comprehensive and conclusive investigations that established a case against the Kogi lawmaker. In a counter-affidavit, the office also rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim that her petitions were not investigated.
The counter-affidavit was filed in response to a notice of preliminary objection submitted by Akpoti-Uduaghan in opposition to the charges. She faces criminal defamation charges before the FCT High Court, while a separate cybercrime charge is pending at the Federal High Court over her allegations that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to kill her.
“The three-count charge was 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, guaranteed under the Constitution. The criminal charge is borne out of comprehensive investigations by the Nigerian Police Force, including all petitions and parties related to the case. All petitions filed by the defendant were duly investigated.”
The prosecution emphasized that the charges were filed in the public interest, to uphold justice, and to prevent abuse of legal processes, noting that they are consistent with extant laws.
At the resumed hearing before the FCT High Court, prosecuting lawyer David Kaswe explained that while the case was set for the hearing of the defendant’s preliminary objection, the prosecution had filed a counter-affidavit which had not been served on Akpoti-Uduaghan. Kaswe requested a short adjournment to allow proper service, saying it would be unfair to proceed without giving the defense an opportunity to respond.
Counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), confirmed that the counter-affidavit had not been served and requested a longer adjournment, citing the planned attendance of members of the defendant’s legal team at this year’s International Bar Association meeting in Canada.
Presiding Judge Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the matter to December 1 for the hearing of the preliminary objection and the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
