AGF Refutes Abuse of Court Process in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Defamation Trial
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has refuted allegations of abuse of court process in the ongoing criminal defamation case involving Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, PulseNets learnt.
According to documents obtained by PulseNets, the Federal Government had on June 19, 2025, arraigned Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on a three-count charge bordering on defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
However, the senator, through her legal team, accused the prosecution of abusing court process, arguing that a similar suit was already filed against her at the Federal High Court, Abuja. She maintained that being subjected to two concurrent criminal proceedings over identical allegations was “manifestly unjust and politically motivated.”
A source within the Ministry of Justice told PulseNets that the AGF’s legal team, led by David Kaswe, opposed the senator’s claim, insisting that the charges were initiated after a comprehensive police investigation confirmed a prima facie case.
In a counter affidavit filed before the court, the prosecution argued that:
“The charge before the FCT High Court was instituted under the Penal Code in the legitimate exercise of the Attorney General’s constitutional powers, guided by public interest and the need to uphold justice.”
The AGF’s office further emphasized that the allegations against Akpoti-Uduaghan were meticulously reviewed, and the charges aligned with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
During Monday’s proceedings, PulseNets reported that the prosecution requested a short adjournment after acknowledging that its counter affidavit had not been properly served on the defence.
Confirming the development, the senator’s lead counsel, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), spoke to PulseNets, noting that members of the defence team were scheduled to attend the International Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Canada, and therefore sought a longer adjournment to allow adequate preparation.
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Justice Chizoba Oji, in her ruling, granted the adjournment and adjourned the matter to December 1, 2025, for hearing on both the preliminary objection and the prosecution’s counter affidavit.
