By Aremu Oyinkansola
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has defended the defamation charges filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, saying her conduct toward Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello contravened the Penal Code.
This was contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution in response to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s preliminary objection to the three-count charge of harmful imputation and defamation pending before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The AGF’s office maintained that the charges were a lawful exercise of the Attorney General’s prosecutorial powers under the 1999 Constitution and followed a “comprehensive and conclusive investigation” by the Nigeria Police Force.
“The criminal charge against the defendant arose from the thorough investigation of all petitions and parties involved. The Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation filed the charge after due consideration of public interest, the interest of justice, and the need to prevent abuse of legal process,” the prosecution stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned on June 19 and pleaded not guilty to all counts. She later filed a preliminary objection seeking to have the case dismissed, arguing that the charges lacked merit.
At Monday’s proceedings, Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned the hearing of the objection to December 1 after prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the prosecution had yet to serve its response on the defence.
The case stems from petitions filed by Akpabio and Bello following Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of an assassination attempt, which the AGF’s office said amounted to criminal defamation under the law.
The prosecution, however, insisted that the charges were not politically motivated but filed “in the best interest of justice.”
