Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has urged a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to dismiss the criminal defamation suit filed against her by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), insisting it is unconstitutional, defective and aimed at silencing her.

In a preliminary objection dated May 16, the lawmaker, through her counsel Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN), argued that the three-count charge marked CR/297/25 was filed to protect the private interests of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, and Sandra Duru — and not in the public interest.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the alleged defamatory claims arose from a long-standing political feud with the trio and accused the AGF of using public funds to ventilate private grievances.

She maintained that no investigation preceded the charge, while multiple petitions she submitted to authorities over alleged threats to her life by Akpabio and Bello were ignored.

“The selective and hasty prosecution of the counter-allegations brought by my political rivals, while my own petitions are abandoned, exposes a discriminatory and unjust use of the criminal justice system,” she stated.

The senator said the AGF exceeded his powers under Section 174(3) of the Constitution by initiating criminal proceedings in defence of individual reputations, stressing that the complainants are at liberty to pursue civil remedies.

She also argued that the statements in question were political expressions protected by law.

“The charge is malicious, discriminatory and designed to intimidate me as a sitting lawmaker,” she submitted, urging the court to strike it out for abuse of legal process.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has been locked in a tense relationship with the Senate leadership since February, following a heated exchange with Akpabio on the floor of the upper chamber. Her suspension by the Senate was later overturned by a Federal High Court in Abuja, after which she returned to allege further mistreatment.