Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Legal Team Decries ‘Selective Justice’ Amid Federal Charges.
The legal team of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has strongly condemned what it calls a “troubling pattern of selective justice” following the Federal Government’s decision to file criminal charges against her, despite a dozen unresolved petitions she submitted between March and May 2025. The accusations, detailed in a statement issued on 28 May 2025 by her lead counsel, Uju Nwoduwu, highlight concerns over biased enforcement by Nigerian authorities.
The Federal Government initiated a three-count criminal charge against the suspended senator on 16 May 2025, marked CR/297/25, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. The charges, brought under Section 391 of the Penal Code, stem from alleged defamatory remarks made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on 3 April 2025. She accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination, claims the government says were made with intent to harm their reputations. A third charge relates to a 27 March 2025 telephone conversation with Sandra C. Duru, where the senator allegedly implicated Akpabio in a killing and organ harvesting case, further escalating the legal row.
According to Nwoduwu, the senator filed 12 petitions between March and May 2025, addressing serious allegations including cyberstalking, defamation, threats to life, and an attempted assassination of a member of her protocol team. These petitions, some implicating high-ranking officials, have reportedly received no action from the Nigeria Police Force or other security agencies. In contrast, counter-allegations from Akpabio and Bello, whom Akpoti-Uduaghan accused, have been swiftly pursued, resulting in the charges against her. “This selective response raises deep concerns about biased enforcement of justice,” Nwoduwu stated, noting the disparity in treatment as a “glaring injustice.”
The legal team’s statement, supported by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dr Ehiogie West-Idahosa, confirmed receipt of the court summons on 23 May 2025 and vowed to present “factual and statutory defences” at trial. Akpoti-Uduaghan, currently abroad, has assured authorities of her readiness to appear in court once a hearing date is set. Her lawyers have called for impartial investigations into her petitions, urging law enforcement to uphold fairness and due process. “The public expects prosecutorial bodies to act without fear or favour,” Nwoduwu added, thanking supporters who have rallied against what they term an “extraordinarily questionable” prosecution.
The charges follow a turbulent period for Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended from the Senate on 6 March 2025 for “gross misconduct” after a confrontation with Akpabio over seating arrangements. The senator, who has consistently described her suspension as “illegal” and an attempt to silence her, also alleged sexual harassment by Akpabio in February 2025, claims he denies. Her petitions to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, demanding probes into these and other allegations, remain unaddressed, further fuelling accusations of selective justice.
Public reaction, as seen in posts on X, reflects widespread concern over the case, with many viewing the charges as an attempt to suppress Akpoti-Uduaghan’s outspoken advocacy. Civil groups, including the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organizations, have called for transparent investigations into her allegations, citing the need for accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system.
As the legal battle looms, Akpoti-Uduaghan remains resolute, with her team emphasizing her commitment to due process. The case, pending before Justice C.N. Oji, is set to test Nigeria’s judicial commitment to fairness, with implications for political accountability and freedom of expression.