…It’s an affront to intimidate, silence women, they said
WOMANIFESTO, a Nigerian women’s movement has strongly condemned what they call a “desperate attempt to silence Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan” through coordinated legal assaults.
In a statement signed by Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Co-Convener representing over 350 members, the group demanded an immediate end to all forms of harassment and intimidation against the Senator. They emphasized the crucial need to protect her right to express views on public interest matters and alleged harassment.
Call for Upholding Due Process and Judicial Integrity
The statement called for due process to be upheld and for the Nigerian judiciary to resist being weaponized for political witch-hunts. It highlighted the critical importance of judicial independence and integrity for a functioning democracy. Womanifesto asserted that the “egregious abuse of court processes undermines public trust in our legal system.”
Misuse of State Machinery Questioned
The charges against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, arising from statements she reportedly made against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, are being prosecuted by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Womanifesto views this unprecedented intervention in what appears to be a personal defamation suit as raising serious questions about the misuse of state machinery for private vendettas.
“This is an affront to womanhood, a direct message meant to intimidate and silence Nigerian women who dare to speak out against injustice, particularly sexual harassment and political malfeasance,” the statement declared.
“They want to shut women up, to make us afraid to speak out when harassed… This calculated move… is unacceptable and must be resisted with every fiber of our being.”
Alleged Judicial Ambush and Unlawful Arrest Attempt
The outrage stems from the scheduled arraignment of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on defamation charges on June 19, 2025. This follows what Womanifesto described as a “shocking attempt to unlawfully arrest her” on Monday, June 16, 2025. The group reported that ten truckloads of armed policemen were deployed to the Federal High Court in Abuja, ostensibly to effect an arrest despite the Senator and her legal team not being formally served with any notice of a new suit. This “judicial ambush” was reportedly thwarted by the timely intervention of a vigilant lawyer.
Womanifesto asserts that these charges constitute a “blatant affront to justice, due process, and indeed, to the collective voice of Nigerian womanhood.” They reiterate their concerns about the Federal Government’s unprecedented intervention in what appears to be a personal defamation suit, questioning the misuse of state machinery for private vendettas.
“This is not just about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan; it is about every Nigerian woman,” the statement asserted. “The Nigerian government is attempting to send a clear message that women are to be seen and not heard, and certainly not to speak back, especially when challenging powerful male figures.”
Womanifesto urged all well-meaning Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the international community to join them in solidarity, framing this as a critical moment for the defense of democracy, human rights, and women’s voices in Nigeria.