Natasha asks court to quash federal criminal charges against her

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to strike out the six-count criminal charge filed against her by the Federal Government, insisting that the case is politically driven and constitutes an abuse of prosecutorial powers.

In a motion filed by her legal team, the lawmaker argued that the charges violate due process and were instituted to shield certain influential figures from scrutiny.

She maintained that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) acted outside the scope of his constitutional powers under Section 174(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires that prosecutorial authority be exercised only in the public interest, in the interest of justice, and to prevent abuse of legal process.

According to her affidavit in support of the motion, the senator stated that the charges which wer filed on May 22, 2025, “serve no public purpose” and were “instituted in bad faith.” She contended that the comments forming the basis of the prosecution were made as part of her duties as a public official advocating for accountability, rather than as personal or defamatory remarks.

Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the case is rooted in long-standing political hostilities, describing it as a deliberate misuse of state machinery to silence opposition voices.

“The charges before this Honourable Court violate constitutional principles and amount to an abuse of legal process. The Attorney General has acted beyond the limits of his powers, and the continuation of this case would occasion a miscarriage of justice,” the motion partly read.

The senator’s supporting documents also cited several media publications and reports that, she said, provided the context for her earlier statements. She noted that those reports remain publicly accessible and have neither been challenged in court nor refuted officially.

Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that her comments were meant to promote transparency and accountability in public office, not to disparage any individual.

“My statements were made in the course of political discourse and grounded in the public interest,” she said. “This prosecution seeks to intimidate critics and suppress free expression rather than promote justice.”

She consequently urged the court to dismiss the charges outright, warning that allowing the case to proceed would compromise the integrity of the justice system and weaken public confidence in the rule of law.