Prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to pursue a civil defamation suit against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, rather than involving the police.
Akpabio had petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun over comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during an April 1 rally in Kogi State, alleging they implied an assassination plot against him.
In a letter dated April 3, he denied the claims and called for her prosecution on grounds of defamation, incitement, and false accusation. The petition was also sent to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Falana, however, criticized the move as an attempt to “criminalize a politically motivated civil dispute,” citing the 1985 Court of Appeal case Arthur Nwankwo v The State, which affirms public officials must tolerate criticism.
“If Senator Akpabio feels defamed,” Falana said, “he should file a libel suit in the appropriate High Court.”