A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has adjourned further proceedings in the criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, to 23 February, following a request from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Justice Chizoba Oji fixed the new date after confirming that the court had received a letter from the prosecution seeking an adjournment.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan faces a three-count charge of criminal defamation regarding her allegation that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello plotted to kill her.

In response, she filed a preliminary objection, challenging the AGF’s decision to institute two similar cases against her—one at the FCT High Court and another at the Federal High Court—describing this as an abuse of court process.

In its counter-affidavit, the prosecution maintained that the charges were properly filed and did not constitute abuse. It asserted that the FCT High Court case followed a “thorough and comprehensive investigation” establishing a prima facie case, and that the AGF acted within his constitutional powers.

The prosecution further stated that all petitions filed by the senator were fully investigated by the police and that the decision to prosecute was motivated by public interest and the need to prevent abuse of the legal process.

The sun