Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Legal Team Cries Foul Over Pending Petitions as FG Files Charges: Calls for Justice, Fairness, and Rule of Law

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team demands justice as the FG files charges while her petitions on threats, cyberstalking, and defamation remain unaddressed.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has raised alarm over what it describes as a growing imbalance and perceived injustice in the handling of legal matters involving the senator. This follows recent developments where the federal government filed criminal charges against her, even though several of her own petitions, reportedly involving serious allegations, remain unaddressed.

In a detailed press release issued by her lead counsel, Uju Nwoduwu, the legal team expressed deep concern about the state of Nigeria’s legal and justice system, particularly how it seems to apply different standards depending on the individual involved. The statement noted that between March and May 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted no fewer than twelve formal petitions to relevant security and law enforcement agencies. However, months later, there has been no concrete action or resolution on any of them.

• According to her legal team, the petitions filed by the senator cover serious issues such as Cyberstalking 
• Defamation of character
• Threats to life
• Violence and intimidation
• Security threats involving politically exposed persons

“These are not frivolous complaints,” Nwoduwu stated. “Each petition contains detailed evidence and was submitted to the appropriate authorities with the expectation of prompt investigation and action. But unfortunately, the silence has been deafening.” The statement continued: “When individuals report threats to their lives, character assassination, and sustained campaigns of online and offline harassment, the least expected from law enforcement is a fair and timely response. The public expects our institutions to operate on the principles of impartial justice and the rule of law, regardless of the social or political standing of those involved."

Disparity in Legal Action: Why Charge the Senator While Ignoring Her Petitions?
The legal team noted the irony and injustice in the fact that while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is being charged based on separate allegations, the specifics of which are still being confirmed publicly, the multiple serious complaints she made months earlier have not seen the light of day in terms of investigation or prosecution. Some of these complaints reportedly involve individuals currently holding positions of influence in both government and security circles, which the legal team believes may be contributing to the delay or lack of interest in following through.

 “This creates a very dangerous precedent,” said Nwoduwu. “What it tells ordinary Nigerians is that justice is selective. That some voices are louder than others. And that certain individuals can be shielded from investigation, while others are quickly dragged before the courts."

Despite the ongoing legal drama, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has continued to maintain a calm and composed posture. Though she is currently outside Nigeria for personal engagements, she has formally acknowledged all official correspondence related to the case filed against her. According to her legal team, she has expressed her full readiness to return and appear in court once an official date for arraignment is communicated.

 “Senator Natasha remains committed to the rule of law,” her legal team emphasized. “She has nothing to hide and is willing to subject herself to the legal process but only within a framework that guarantees fairness, transparency, and justice for all parties.”

The statement also extended appreciation to the numerous Nigerians and civil society groups who have shown unwavering support for the senator during this time, urging them to continue advocating for an equitable legal system.
The crux of the legal team’s press release lies in a broader call to action: that all legal petitions, regardless of who filed them or who is named in them, should be treated with equal urgency and seriousness. Selective prosecution, they argue, undermines public trust in democratic institutions and damages the integrity of the justice system.

 “If the system can act swiftly to file charges against a serving senator, then it should also have the capacity to address petitions filed by that same senator, particularly when they involve matters of public safety, character, and national security,” the statement said.

The legal team has now renewed its appeal to all relevant bodies—including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the Attorney General — to review and take immediate action on all twelve petitions submitted earlier in the year.

“Let there be no sacred cows,” Nwoduwu declared. “The law is meant to be blind, not selectively applied. Justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done. Nigerians deserve to see that fairness is not a luxury reserved for the privileged few.”

In the wake of the press statement, several legal experts and civic voices have begun speaking out on what they describe as the urgent need to depoliticize Nigeria’s judicial process. Barrister Chinwe Okonkwo, a human rights advocate, told PrimeLineInfo that

"Selective justice is a threat to democracy." She added, “If Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petitions contain credible threats or allegations, then the authorities must act on them just as they would against any other Nigerian. We cannot afford a justice system that is only active when it suits a particular narrative."

Similarly, a civic coalition under the banner of Democracy and Due Process Network (DDPN) has called for an independent review of all pending political-related petitions filed in the past year, citing increasing public concern over the politicization of the judiciary.
As the legal back-and-forth continues, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the justice system handles the dual issues before it: the charges filed against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the petitions she submitted, which are yet to be acted upon. For many observers, the outcome will be more than a legal affair; it will be a litmus test for the credibility, fairness, and impartiality of Nigeria’s justice system.  Criminal Defamation: FG Drags Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to Court Over Live TV Remarks
In the meantime, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has vowed to continue seeking redress through legal means, reaffirming their belief that justice, though delayed, must not be denied.


By Primelineinfo