A high-stakes legal battle is brewing in Abuja as Senator Natasha H. Akpoti-Uduaghan confronts Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, and the Federal Government, alleging political persecution.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has filed two separate criminal defamation suits against the Senator—one at the FCT High Court under the Penal Code and another at the Federal High Court under the Cybercrimes Act. Both cases stem from the same alleged statements.

In response, Akpoti-Uduaghan, backed by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, filed Preliminary Objections urging both courts to strike out the charges. Her legal team argued that the AGF overstepped his constitutional powers under Section 174(3), stressing that prosecutions must serve the public interest and justice, not private reputations.

“This prosecution serves no public good,” the defence stated. “It shields the personal reputations of two powerful politicians using taxpayers’ funds.” They further argued that defamation should be handled in civil courts, warning that criminalizing political speech amounts to silencing opposition voices.

The Senator also accused the AGF of selective prosecution under Section 42 of the Constitution, noting that while her petitions alleging threats to her life were ignored, charges against her were swiftly pursued.

Legal observers say the case could reshape Nigeria’s free speech landscape by testing the boundary between political expression and criminal liability.

Counsel on record: Prof. Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr. E. West-Idahosa, SAN; J.J. Usman, SAN; M.J. Numa, SAN.