The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to withdraw the Federal Government’s defamation case against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The rights group made the call on Monday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja rejecting the government’s application to issue a bench warrant against the senator.
SERAP said the case was a clear attempt to punish Akpoti-Uduaghan for exercising her right to free speech.
“Following President Tinubu’s commitment to human rights on June 12, we urge him to direct the AGF to drop the case against Senator Natasha, who is being targeted simply for speaking out,” the statement read.
The case, which is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, stems from alleged defamatory statements made by the senator.
During Monday’s court proceedings, the prosecutor, D.D. Kasue, told the court that Akpoti-Uduaghan was aware of the case but failed to appear. He said her legal team had been served that morning and asked the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
However, the judge declined the request, stating that proper service and reasonable time must be established before issuing such a warrant.
The matter has generated public interest, with several civil society groups and political observers describing the legal action as politically motivated.
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