Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to pursue a defamation claim against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in court rather than involving the police.
Akpabio had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, alleging “criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace” over comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan at a political rally.
Falana argues that this is a civil dispute with political motivations, and the police should not be involved, citing a Court of Appeal case, Arthur Nwankwo v The State (1985), which cautions public officers against using state machinery to harass or intimidate opponents.
The dispute began when Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of instructing former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to assassinate her, which Akpabio denies as a “heinous lie” aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
