-
Second defamation case filed over same statements
-
Arraignment set for June 30 at Federal High Court
-
Legal experts condemn duplicity, cite harassment concern
The Federal Government has filed a new criminal charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over statements allegedly damaging to the reputation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was instituted on May 22, 2025, under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2024. It comes just weeks after an earlier defamation charge—CR/297/25—was filed at the FCT High Court based on the same allegations, raising legal concerns about forum shopping and judicial abuse.
According to court filings, the government alleges that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan published online statements capable of tarnishing the public image of both Akpabio and Bello. She has denied all wrongdoing and maintains her right to free expression.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
READ ALSO: SERAP Demands FG Drop Defamation Charges Against Senator Natasha
While the FCT High Court charge was filed under Section 392 of the Penal Code and has already led to her arraignment and bail on June 19, the new cybercrime-based case will see her re-arraigned at the Federal High Court on June 30, 2025.
Critics and legal scholars argue that filing identical charges in different courts amounts to harassment and an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. “This is clearly a misuse of state power to silence a dissenting voice,” said Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Dr. Raymond Ebe, who warned that it risks setting a precedent for targeting critics under the pretext of protecting reputations.
