THE Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has insisted that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District has a case to answer in the criminal charges filed against her before two Abuja courts.
News Point Nigeria reports that the AGF’s office faulted the senator’s claim that the criminal defamation and cybercrime charges instituted against her before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Federal High Court in Abuja amounted to an abuse of court process.
In its response, the AGF’s office maintained that the charges were properly filed after “comprehensive and conclusive investigations” by law enforcement agencies, adding that a prima facie case was clearly established against the lawmaker.
The position of the AGF’s office was contained in a counter affidavit filed in opposition to a preliminary objection raised by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had argued that the suits against her were politically motivated and lacked merit.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing two separate criminal cases.
One, filed before the High Court of the FCT, borders on criminal defamation, while the other, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, involves alleged cybercrime offences.
The cases stem from allegations that the senator made public claims accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her — allegations the prosecution insists were false and injurious to their reputations.
In its counter-affidavit, the prosecution stated that the charges were not politically influenced but lawfully instituted under the provisions of the Penal Code and the Cybercrimes Act.
“The three-count charge was preferred against the defendant after a thorough investigation and a prima facie case established,” the document reads.
It further noted: “The criminal charge against the defendant is borne out of the comprehensive and conclusive investigation of the case, including all petitions and parties related to the case by the Nigerian Police Force.
All the petitions filed by the defendant were duly investigated, and charges were filed at the FCT High Court against her colleague senator.”
The AGF’s office maintained that the prosecution acted “in the bona fide exercise of its constitutional powers” and in the overall interest of justice.
When the matter came up on Monday before Justice Chizoba Oji of the High Court of the FCT, the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the prosecution had filed its counter-affidavit but had not yet served the defendant.
Kaswe therefore applied for a short adjournment to enable the proper service of the process on the defendant.
Counsel to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), confirmed that his client had not been served with the prosecution’s response.
Justice Oji subsequently adjourned the matter to December 1 for the hearing of the senator’s preliminary objection alongside the AGF’s counter-affidavit.