FG files another charge against Akpoti-Uduaghan, faces backlash over ‘forum shopping’
AdvocateJune 23, 2025Read original
The Federal Government has filed a fresh charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal High Court in Abuja, escalating its legal offensive against the Kogi-born lawmaker, in what has been described as desperation by the Federal government to see the Senator put behind bars.The new charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/25, was filed on May 22, 2025, just weeks after an earlier case (CR/297/25) was instituted against her at the FCT High Court. Both charges are based on similar allegations—that Akpoti-Uduaghan made statements considered damaging to the reputations of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
While the FCT High Court charge is anchored on Section 392 of the Penal Code, focusing on criminal defamation, the latest charge invokes Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition) Act, 2024 (as amended). The Federal Government alleges that the senator posted online comments that could harm the public images of Akpabio and Bello—claims she has consistently denied.
Legal analysts have raised concerns that both cases rely on the same facts and statements, suggesting the government may be engaging in forum shopping—a controversial tactic where similar cases are filed in different courts to increase the chances of a favourable ruling. Critics argue this approach abuses judicial processes and amounts to political harassment.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was granted bail by the FCT High Court on June 19, is now expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court on the new charge on June 30, 2025.
The legal offensive has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and constitutional lawyers. They argue that pursuing multiple criminal defamation charges not only burdens the judiciary but also poses a threat to freedom of speech, especially when the alleged offences are rooted in personal opinion and political commentary.
Globally, defamation is increasingly viewed as a civil matter rather than a criminal offence. In Nigeria, several states—including Lagos, Delta, Edo, and Ekiti—have already abolished criminal defamation laws, affirming that reputation issues should be handled as civil disputes, not criminal prosecutions.
Observers warn that the Federal Government’s insistence on criminal proceedings under the guise of protecting reputations may be a tactic to silence dissenting voices. If unchecked, they caution, it could set a dangerous precedent for targeting opposition politicians and critics of powerful officeholders.