Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has raised alarm over what she describes as Nigeria’s rapid descent into a “Banana Republic” under President Bola Tinubu, following the controversial arraignment of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on charges of criminal defamation.
Ezekwesili made the statement via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, condemning what she termed a gross abuse of power by the Nigerian government in concert with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan appeared before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court earlier in the day, where she pleaded not guilty to a three-count criminal defamation charge brought against her by the federal government, reportedly on behalf of Senator Akpabio.
Describing the court proceedings as a “wicked act of diversion,” Ezekwesili said the case was a calculated move to distract from the serious sexual harassment allegations the senator has levelled against Akpabio.
“In a case of gross abuse of power, the Senate President and his allies have co-opted the Nigerian government to turn the table on Senator Natasha Akpoti,” Ezekwesili posted. “This is a signal to Nigerian citizens that they too will be oppressed and silenced if they dare speak up.”
Ezekwesili went on to criticize the federal government’s lawyers for attempting to deny Akpoti-Uduaghan bail and remand her in prison until the trial, which has been set to commence on September 23, 2025.
Justice Orji, however, denied the government’s request and granted the senator bail under certain conditions, which she fulfilled by the end of the proceedings. She exited the court to a warm welcome from her husband and a crowd of supportive constituents.
Ezekwesili praised the senator’s resilience, recalling her defiant declaration when the controversy first broke: “This injustice shall not be sustained.”
“She’s not backing down,” the former minister stated. “Her petition against Senator Akpabio remains the issue that must not be buried beneath legal theatrics.”
The case continues to draw public scrutiny, with many observers interpreting the government’s actions as part of a broader trend of institutional intimidation against dissenting voices.
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