- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court and the Federal High Court Abuja have both struck out the Federal Government defamation suits filed against Kogi state lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This coming days after the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment and assassination plot, directed his lawyers to withdraw all suits filed against the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
NPO Reported that Akpabio gave the directive during his address at a new year service on the 1st of January at the Sacred Heart Church in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State capital.
In effect, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) would on Thursday withdraw the defamation suits it filed against Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who was mentioned in the assassination plot allegation.
Addressing newsmen after the Federal High Court’s dismissal of the case within its jurisdiction, Akpoti-Uduaghan express her delight over the development.
She described the withdrawal as the prevalence of justice over what she labelled malicious cases instigated by Akpabio and Yahaya Bello.
Akpoti-Uduaghan however failed to acknowledge Akpabio’s decision to withdraw the suits as she expressed her gratitude to President Bola Tinubu who she claimed ordered the discontinuance of the suits.
“In life, there are certain situations that tests your faith in your faith in your country, and these two cases are one of them.
“The withdrawal of these two Federal Government cases against me only proves what we’ve always known that these cases were maliciously instigated by two individuals who misuse power to their advantage in witch-hunting an innocent person, which is myself.
“But I’d like to extend a sincere appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having been briefed the truth and his commitment to justice ordered the discontinuance of the two cases.
“I have never doubted that Nigeria is a land of possibilities and that the truth somehow will always get one vindicated. So now, I can actually rest and resume my work fully.” She said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi lawmaker admitted undergoing difficulties in course of the litigation battle which she vowed never to experience again.
“It’s been a whole lot in the past few months. No matter how strong and tough one is, for a person like me that has never been invited by the police for anything, who does not have any financial or case of embezzlement or drug abuse or nothing.
“I’m what one will actually say a good citizen of Nigeria just slammed simultaneously by two Federal Government cases. That was a whole lot!
“But they say whatever doesn’t break you makes you stronger.
“I will say I’m actually tougher but it is not something I will want to experience or wish to anybody. But at the end of the day, I feel justice prevailed.” She said.