Natasha Drags Tinubu Into Fight With Akpabio, Yahaya Bello

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of using state power to protect Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello while targeting her with what she described as “a politically motivated prosecution.”

In a motion filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, the senator urged the court to dismiss the six-count criminal charge brought against her by the Federal Government of Nigeria, arguing that the case was not in the interest of justice but a deliberate attempt to silence her and shield powerful figures from scrutiny.

Through her legal team, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the charges as “an abuse of prosecutorial power”, a violation of due process, and a misuse of public resources aimed at intimidating her for speaking out against corruption and mismanagement by those in high office.

“The charges against me were filed to protect the private and political interests of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello,” she stated in court filings. “They have nothing to do with the public interest or the pursuit of justice.”

Her legal team further argued that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), by approving the case, acted in breach of Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the AGF to exercise prosecutorial discretion only in the public interest, the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process.

According to the motion, “the prosecution of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan serves no public purpose and constitutes a gross abuse of legal authority.”

The senator disclosed that the six-count charge, filed on May 22, 2025, stemmed from her alleged “defamatory” statements concerning Akpabio and Bello — statements she insists were made in the course of public accountability and oversight as a lawmaker.

“I have the constitutional right to raise issues of governance and accountability,” she said. “What I am facing now is political persecution disguised as a criminal case because I dared to speak out.”

In her supporting affidavit, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the alleged defamatory remarks were made against Akpabio and Bello in their personal capacities, not against any institution of the state. She also attached several newspaper publications and reports as evidence, which she said “highlight the public controversies surrounding the Senate President and the former Kogi governor.”

Her court papers described the prosecution as “a misuse of state apparatus to settle personal and political scores.”

“The entire case is a calculated attempt to distract me from my legislative duties and to silence critical voices within and outside the National Assembly,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further argued that the petitions and circumstances leading to her prosecution originated from political rivalries, stressing that the matter brings no tangible benefit to Nigerians.

“Rather than addressing the country’s real challenges — insecurity, inflation, and unemployment — state institutions are being weaponized to defend individuals who should be answering questions about their conduct in public office,” she said.

The senator’s legal team also faulted the timing and nature of the charges, pointing out that the alleged offenses were based on public commentary and interviews she granted to journalists and civil society groups on matters of national importance.

“The Bola Tinubu administration cannot claim to be fighting corruption while shielding its allies from scrutiny,” her statement read in part.

The motion seeks an outright dismissal of the six-count charge, citing lack of merit, violation of constitutional provisions, and abuse of court process.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the opposition bloc in the Senate, has been a frequent critic of what she describes as selective justice and misuse of state power under the current administration. Her latest legal challenge is expected to draw wide political and public attention, given the personalities involved.

“Nigeria must not become a country where power determines guilt or innocence,” she added. “If those who question corruption are criminalized, then democracy itself is under threat.”

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