Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has launched a fierce legal challenge against the federal government, denouncing the criminal defamation case filed against her as a politically motivated attempt to silence opposition voices.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, filed preliminary objections on Monday before the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, seeking to have the six-count charge struck out. The case, brought under the 2024 Cybercrimes Act, stems from petitions by Senate president Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello over remarks she made at a public rally and in a television interview earlier this year.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers, a team of four senior advocates, argue that the charges are unconstitutional, frivolous and a misuse of criminal law to settle political scores. They maintain that defamation is a civil matter and say criminalising her comments undermines free expression.
The senator accused the authorities of selective justice, noting that while her own petitions against Akpabio and Bello were ignored, the attorney general’s office rushed to act on their complaints. “This is discriminatory prosecution because of my opposition political affiliation,” she argued, insisting her comments were part of legitimate public discourse.
Prosecutors allege that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim—that Akpabio instructed Bello to have her killed—was false, malicious and capable of inciting violence. She has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognition. The case has been adjourned until 20 October.
The legal clash comes against the backdrop of an escalating standoff between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate leadership, which suspended her in February after she accused Akpabio of harassment—allegations he strongly denies. A Federal High Court ruled the suspension unconstitutional in July, but the Senate has refused to reinstate her.
Women’s rights groups have now taken the battle international. On Monday, the Womanifesto Network, a coalition of more than 350 organisations, lodged a complaint with the UN special rapporteur on violence against women, accusing the Senate of gender-based discrimination and warning that the case risks silencing women in politics.
“This is about the integrity of our democracy. If a senator can be silenced for reporting harassment, what hope do ordinary women have?” said the coalition’s convener, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.
Signatories to the petition include Amnesty International Nigeria, FIDA, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, WIMBIZ and Stand to End Rape. The groups urged the UN to press Nigeria to comply with its human rights obligations and reinstate the senator immediately.
As of Monday evening, the UN rapporteur’s office had not commented.
