The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has faulted claim by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that the charges filed against before the HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Federal High Court in Abuja amounted to an abuse of court process.

The AGF’s office said the charges were duly filed upon comprehensive and conclusive investigations and having established a prima facie case against her.

The office of the AGF, in a counter affidavit, also faulted the Senator’s claim that her petitions were not investigated.

The counter-affidavit was filed in reaction to a notice of preliminary objection filed by Natasha in opposition to both charges.

She is charged with criminal defamation before the HIgh Court of the FCT, while a charge of alleged cybercrime is pending against her before the Federal High Court in relation to her claim that Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello planed to kill her.

In the counter affidavit, the prosecution stated that contrary to her claim, the three-count charge before the HIgh Court of the FCT was filed against her “after a thorough Investigation of the case and a prima facie case was established.

“The three-count charge was preferred against the defendant pursuant to the Penal code Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the bonafide exercise of the prosecutorial powers of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(as amended) and in the best interest of justice.

“The actions and conducts of the defendant/applicant (Natasha) contravened the penal code law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The criminal charge against the defendant is borne out of the comprehensive and conclusive investigation of the case, including all petitions and parties related to the case by the Nigerian Police Force.

“All the petitions filed by the defendant were duly investigated and charges filed at the FCT High Court against her colleague senator.

“The Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation filed the criminal charge against the defendant after due regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

“The charge against the defendant is consistent with the extant laws and does not constitute an abuse of the legal and prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation,” the prosecution said.

When the case came up on Monday before the HIgh Court of the FCT, the prosecuting lawyer, David Kaswe said although the case was slated for the hearing of the defendant ‘s preliminary objection, the prosecution filed a counter affidavit, which it was unable to serve on the defendant.

Kaswe prayed the courtfor a short adjournment to enable the prosecution properly serve the defendant with its response to her preliminary objection.

He said: “It will not be fair for the prosecution to insist that the matter goes on as the defence team has indicated that it will respond to our counter affidavit.

“In the circumstance, we are asking for a short adjournment to enable us (prosecution) to effect proper service on the defence.”

Responding, Natasha’s lawyer, Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) confirmed that the defendant was not served with the prosecution’s counter affidavit.

West-Idahosa said his client would respond once she is properly served and prayed the court for a long adjournment on the grounds that members of the defendant’s legal team plan to attend this year’s Internation Bar Association’s meeting in Canada.

Justice Chizoba Oji adjourned till December 1 for the preliminary objection and the counter affidavit.

By Wumi Tewogbade, Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at the weekend said, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not blame All Progressives Congress (APC), or any party or individual for its internal crisis, because the crisis is self inflicted .

Wike stated this during a live media parley monitored by our correspondent in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the FCT Mininster, had been at disagreement with top members of the party, advised that exclusion of members for meetings will not help the progress of the party.

“All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people, because they are governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?”, he said.

The FCT Minister, gave conditions for attending the peoposed party convention, he said nobody must be sidelined and it must be properly organised.    

He said: “With what is going on politically, PDP will continue to lose if there is no change. It is very embarrassing, I know from the beginning that some PDP members are playing games. House that has died since. PDP did not do the right thing. They should follow due process to the national convention.

“If you think you will sideline people to hold the convention, it will not be possible. If a proper convention is to be held I will attend, but if the convention is not a proper one, I will not attend.”

Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were stalling progress.

“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.

He said: “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party.”

The Minister questioned why his exclusion was justified simply because he no longer holds a governorship position.

“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he queried.

He added: “Assuming I am not a Minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”

The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has unanimously approved the creation of an additional state in the South East geopolitical zone, increasing the region’s total to six.

The decision was reached during a two-day retreat in Lagos, where the committee reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.

Currently, the South East has five states fewer than the six or seven that make up other geopolitical zones.

The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, deliberated extensively on the matter.

Kalu among other many lawmakers, who had consistently championed the demand for an additional state for the region, reiterated that the request was anchored on principles of equity, justice, and fairness.

Members of the Committee who unanimously approved the request later took turns to deliberate on the issue, speaking in favour of granting the South East an additional state.

Following the deliberations, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State).

The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted.

In a related development, the joint committee also established a subcommittee to further consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.

In his remarks, Senator Barau Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.

“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process,” Jibrin said. “By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the State Houses of Assembly.”