COURT ADJOURNS NATASHA'S ALLEGED DEFAMATORY CASE TO FEBRUARY 23

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BY JENN NOMAMIUKOR

A high court in the Federal Capital Territory, located in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday approved a request from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to delay further proceedings in a criminal defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

Judge Chizoba Oji set a new date for the hearing of the senator’s preliminary objection after confirming that the court had received a letter from the prosecution asking for the delay.

The senator is being charged with three counts of criminal defamation related to her claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello conspired to kill her.

In response to the charges, she filed a preliminary objection arguing that the Attorney General’s decision to bring two similar cases against her in both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court was an unnecessary and improper use of the court system.

However, in a counter–affidavit, the prosecution said the charges were correctly filed and not an abuse.

It said the case in the FCT High Court was based on a “thorough and comprehensive investigation” that showed there was enough evidence to start a case.
The prosecution also said the AGF was acting within his legal rights as a prosecutor.

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They added that all the petitions the senator filed were fully checked by the police, and the decision to take legal action was based on what’s in the public interest and stopping misuse of the law.