By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has accused the Federal Government of pursuing selective justice following a criminal charge filed against her.
The Federal Government, earlier this month, instituted legal action against the senator over remarks she made during a live television broadcast. The case, registered as CR/297/25, was filed on May 16, 2025, at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, listing Akpoti-Uduaghan as the only defendant.
According to the charge, the senator allegedly made statements intended to harm another person’s reputation, in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code (Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990). The offence carries penalties under Section 392 of the same law.
In a statement issued by her legal counsel, Uju Nwoduwu, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team criticized the move as politically motivated. They disclosed that the senator had submitted twelve petitions between March and May 2025, alleging serious crimes including cyberstalking, defamation, threats to life, and an assassination attempt. None of these petitions, they said, has received a response from the police or security agencies.
The legal team noted that the accused individuals in her petitions—among them Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello—have seen their counterclaims acted upon swiftly, in contrast to the silence surrounding her own complaints.
“This lack of response to our client’s petitions, juxtaposed with the expedited handling of counter-allegations, suggests a troubling pattern of selective enforcement,” the statement read.
They further claimed that some of the complaints involve the abduction and attempted murder of a staff member, with links to high-ranking individuals.
Though currently outside the country for personal matters, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has received formal notification of the criminal charges against her.
Her legal representatives thanked members of the public who have spoken out against the charges and expressed hope that the justice system will not be used as a tool for intimidation.Attach
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