ActionAid Nigeria has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s decision to file criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The charges stem from public allegations she made concerning her personal safety and alleged political interference.
Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, released a statement on Friday, asserting that these criminal proceedings against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan represent a “gross misuse of state power.” He emphasized that it is concerning for the government to dedicate significant financial and institutional resources to prosecuting a citizen who has raised serious accusations against two prominent political figures, especially when these individuals have been subjects of widespread controversy. Instead, Mamedu argued, the focus should be on investigating the claims and upholding justice.
“At a time when Nigerians grapple with severe economic hardship, escalating insecurity, and a shrinking civic space, this prosecution raises profound questions about the Federal Government’s priorities,” Mamedu stated. “It reflects a troubling pattern of stifling dissent rather than pursuing accountability.”
Mamedu further highlighted that the application of criminal defamation, a legal instrument increasingly challenged globally and within Nigeria itself, to shield powerful individuals from scrutiny, signals an alarming step backward for Nigeria’s democratic principles.
He described the case as particularly disturbing, noting its potential to undermine years of advocacy for greater women’s representation in politics. Mamedu pointed out the apparent disparity: “By singling out a female lawmaker for criminal prosecution while figures like Yahaya Bello, currently facing a 19-count charge from the EFCC for criminal breach of trust and money laundering amounting to billions of naira, are seemingly shielded or even positioned as witnesses, the credibility of both the Federal Government and the EFCC is profoundly compromised. This contradiction is not only disconcerting but outrageous, exposing a selective approach to justice that erodes public trust.”
“This is not a matter where the Federal Government should be intervening,” Mamedu asserted. “The FG is engaging in a battle that is not its concern. If Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims are considered defamatory, then Yahaya Bello and Senate President Akpabio should pursue civil remedies through the courts in their individual capacities.”
He reiterated that the Federal Government has “no business interfering in a matter that ought to be resolved between the directly involved parties. This interference clearly indicates a dangerous abuse of state power, aimed at safeguarding political interests rather than ensuring justice.”
ActionAid Nigeria is demanding an immediate cessation of the criminal defamation proceedings against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. The organization also calls for an independent and transparent investigation into her public allegations.
Furthermore, the advocacy group insists on a public statement from President Tinubu, reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to democratic accountability and the protection of dissenting voices.
ActionAid Nigeria urged the media and the dwindling number of independent voices within the judiciary to resist this abuse of power. “We can no longer pretend that the legislature, the executive, or the judiciary, in their current configurations, will hold themselves accountable,” the statement declared.
Finally, the organization appealed to international bodies, including the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), diplomatic missions in Nigeria, and global human rights organizations, to join Nigerian voices and civil society in publicly condemning this perilous misuse of state authority. Mamedu concluded by urging citizens to “raise their voices boldly and without delay, because the long-term cost of inaction will be borne by every citizen who dares to speak truth to power.”
