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Famous Human Rights Advocate and Nigerian Senior Advocate (SAN), Femi Falana, have issued strong caution to the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, urged him not to arm state institutions in his sustainable dispute with the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Kogi Central.
Falana’s statement following the Akpabio formal petition submitted to the Police Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun, accused Akpoti-Uuduaghan pollution of good names and incitement.
The President of the Senate called for his prosecution of the statement allegedly made during the political meeting, including the claim of the murder plot described by Akpabio as “fully wrong, unfounded, and politically motivated.”
But in the company’s response that was issued typically on Friday, Falana challenged the basis of the petition, describing the problem as a civilian dispute, not a criminal violation. He warned not to use the country’s machine to withstand differences of opinion or silence political criticism.
Also read: Sen Natasha Responds to Akpabio’s Petition on Murder Allegations
“This problem does not guarantee criminal prosecution,” Falana said, quoting a stand out of the 1985 Appeal Court in Arthur Nwankwo V of the State, who set a precedent to protect freedom of speech in democratic society. Quoting the late Judge Olajide Olatawura, he reminded public officials that criticism, even when hard, is the foundation of democratic accountability.
“We must not be reduced from the freedom obtained from our colonial Mr. by using the law imposed by them to be in accordance with their goals,” said Falana. “Those who are in public offices should not be tolerant of criticism. Where a writer exceeds the limits, there must be an effort to law defamation.”
He asked Akpabio to pursue complaints through defamation settings, rather than submitting criminal claims – a step warned by Falana could be interpreted as abuse of power.
“The freedom of expression that is immortalized in our constitution must be maintained, especially in the political arena where strong debate is very important,” Falana added, warning what he described as a dangerous trend in the shrinking of civilian space through police intervention in political disagreement.
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