End desperate action against Natasha, Coalition tells FG

A coalition of Nigeria Youth Groups has condemned what it called a desperate plot to incarcerate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The group said the effort of the federal government’s lawyer to have the Senator remanded during her last court appearance speaks volumes. It could be recalled that shortly after she took her not guilty plea, […]

A coalition of Nigeria Youth Groups has condemned what it called a desperate plot to incarcerate suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The group said the effort of the federal government’s lawyer to have the Senator remanded during her last court appearance speaks volumes.

It could be recalled that shortly after she took her not guilty plea, the federation government lawyer, David Kaswe asked Justice Chisoba Oji to remand her in prison till the determination of the charge.

This was, however, opposed by Natasha’s lawyer, Professor Roland Otaru.

The court later admitted her to bail.

There is yet another case against the Senator in another court, with her arraignment expected to come up later.

Reacting to the developments, the Coalition, in a statement signed by the National President of Coalition of Nigeria Youth Groups, Abdul Mohammed Nasir, the Secretary General, Victoria Ademola and the Publicity Secretary, Ibeh Columbus Ameachi, they expressed dismay over what they called “endless persecution of the female Senator”.

They stated that anyone who doubted before now that Senator Natasha was undergoing persecution, may have had every doubt cleared “going by the litany of cases lined up against her.”

According to the group, “one can also see from the fruitless efforts of the government’s lawyer to have her remanded in prison, that there is a desperate plot to not just to embarrass her but to keep her out of circulation.

“The Senator willingly submitted herself for trial as soon as the trial notice was served on her, so what influenced the demand for her remand in prison in an ordinarily bailable offence?

“We feel enraged that this matter has been allowed to linger for long, with all the accompanying drama.

“At this point, we are saying that enough is enough; this woman has been persecuted enough; we had expected that the civil matter in court should have been allowed to run its course, where she is expected to prove her allegations.

“However, what we are seeing are suppressive actions, which are not portraying Nigeria in good light.”

The coalition then called on the international communities, ECOWAS, women organizations all over the world “to rally support for Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan against her continued humiliation and intimidation.

“The senator has been left vulnerable to insecurity since her security details were withdrawn. The recurring criminal attacks on the senator’s Kogi State home calls for immediate reinstatement of her security.

“We, however, commend the trial judge that granted her bail despite the pressure from the government circles.”