Respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, has described the criminal charges filed by the Federal Government against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as “the most dangerous abuse of the criminal justice system” driven by “primordial partisan selfish interests.”
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, Okutepa expressed deep concern over what he termed the misuse of state power against a sitting lawmaker over statements allegedly made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.
“I do not know what points the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Federal Government of Nigeria wants to score with the criminal charges it filed against distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan for the alleged criminal defamation of the Senate President and Yahaya Bello.
I can see nothing useful other than a waste of public resources to prosecute the distinguished Senator to cow her to keep quiet. The charge in my honest and humble view was filed purely for partisan political vengeance not rooted in the overall interests of Nigerians and the public interests.”
Okutepa argued that while the nation is plagued by large-scale corruption, especially involving former and serving public officials, it is concerning that state resources are being deployed to prosecute a sitting Senator over allegations of defamation.
“There is no doubt that daily we read on social and conventional media how monies belonging to the people of Nigeria have been stolen by those who served or who have served in the Nigerian government and some are still serving…
The pursuits of those who are alleged to have stolen these monies will be more of public interests and the interest of justice than the vengeful pursuit of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan.”
Referencing the alleged undervalued sale of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and other reported cases of looting, the learned silk wondered why the Federal Government has not channelled its energy into pursuing economic saboteurs.
“Recently it was alleged that Ajaokuta Steel company worth more than $700 million was allegedly sold for a paltry sum of $30 million…
Why can’t the Federal government of Nigeria pursue these economic saboteurs instead of wasting taxpayers’ money to prosecute Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan for what appears to be pure private interests and reputation of individuals that has no economic values to the people of Nigeria?”
He described the charges — which accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of making harmful statements on Channels TV and at a political rally — as being filed in haste, lacking regard for justice or public interest.
“Can it be reasonably said that given the issues raised by distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan… this criminal charge was not filed too hastily and in abuse of power…?
I think reasonable members of the society will go with the impression… that the Federal Government of Nigeria has joined forces oppressing Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan to further oppress her.”
Okutepa reiterated a previous public statement made in December 2024 in which he decried the misuse of legal instruments in Nigeria, noting:
“If you want the best place to study and learn how to put the law to bad use and for ulterior purposes, it is in Nigeria. The Nigerian systems allow the misuse of power using law to attain unlawful ends…
The powerful, the affluent, and the ‘touch-not’ people in society in most cases have these security agencies in their pockets…
Most security agencies today act as debt recovery agencies on a commission basis.”
He questioned whether current judicial and legal systems offer any real remedy for victims of government overreach:
“There are many victims of lawless adjudications in Nigeria… The rate at which people suffer in this area is becoming too alarming…
The time has come that we should, as a people, provide immediate remedies for victims of lawlessness. No society can grow and develop when wrongdoers are celebrated while the victims of wrongdoers are left without remedies.”
Concluding, Okutepa called the charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan a continuation of systemic oppression, adding:
“Even though my view above was expressed in 2024 before the filing of this criminal charge against Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, I think this is the meaning of the charge…
We have to just watch to see how the drama will unfold. I am looking forward to this acrobatic legal gymnastics rooted in what appears to be misuse of prosecutorial power of the Federal Government in political disputes between Nigerian citizens…
The stand of the Federal Government is simply at variance with the equal duties and responsibilities it owes us all as Nigerians. But what do I know? Power corrupts — absolute power corrupts absolutely — I can see in this unfortunate charge filed against a victim, based as it were on systemic oppression.”
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