MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING-Hon. Justice Orji Delivers A Just and Equitable Verdict: Senator Natasha has not committed a capital crime and is presumed innocent for now; Another indictment of Akpabio and the DPP

By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja

In the year 1600, William Shakespeare wrote a drama entitled: “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING”.

It seems that the title of this drama is exactly the state of play in Nigeria.

Imagine how the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation of Nigeria, would expend taxpayers money to prosecute a case of defamation while abandoning the more serious crime of terrorism that is costing Nigeria loss of lives and property as we recently saw in Benue State!!!

The DPP’s prosecution of Senator Natasha for alleged defamation is a classic case of much ado about nothing!!!

Fortunately, the Hon. Justice Orji, told the DPP and his lawyers in a coded, subtle language that their prosecution of Senator Natasha is an example of much ado about nothing.

In response to the DPP and his lawyers argument that Senator Natasha should be denied bail, Hon. Justice Orji, is reported to have stated as follows: “However, in her brief ruling, Justice Orji noted that the alleged offence was not a capital one and that the law presumes Natasha innocent for now”.

For those who are lawyers and are used to appearing in court, the statement of the said judge is what we lawyers call: “a hint”!!!

The judge has dropped a hint that contrary to the mindset of the DPP and his lawyers, who are treating Senator Natasha as an already condemned criminal who ought to be behind bars, the judge is saying: “Senator Natasha is not ALLEGED to have committed any capital offence that warrants her being denied bail”(the alleged offences of defamation is at best a misdemeanour)!!!

In other words, the Judge dropped the hint to the DPP and his lawyers, “what is this much ado about nothing” for a simple ALLEGED offence of defamation, you want Senator Natasha to be denied bail.

By her verdict yesterday, Hon. Justice Orji was sending a subtle hint and message to the DPP and his lawyers by saying: “DPP, so is it a capital offence that Senator Natasha ALLEGEDLY committed for you to be calling six witnesses, including serving Senator and former governor, police officers and even an Artificially Generated (AI) witness from the United States of America (USA) named Dr. Sandra E. Duru?”.

Another part of the subtle hint dropped by Hon. Justice Orji was when she said: “Senator Natasha is presumed innocent for now”!!!

That was another indictment of AKPABIO and his team and the DPP and his lawyers.

There are two meanings that can be deduced from Hon. Justice Orji’s statement:

1. Akpabio and the DPP and his lawyers have already reached the conclusion that Senator Natasha is guilty, beyond any reasonable doubt, they are not even entertaining the slightest notion or idea that Senator Natasha is innocent until she is proven guilty by any court of law;
2. Secondly, based on the foregone conclusion that Senator Natasha is guilty, the team of AKPABIO and the DPP and his lawyers by their public statements and actions have always portrayed Senator Natasha as guilty of defamation (not alleged defamation). This is the reason why in the lawsuit currently before Hon. Binta Nyako one of the issues raised is whether Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN (one of Akpabio’s lawyers) is not guilty of contempt of court based on PREJUDICIAL comments he wrote and published against Senator Natasha. Dr. Monday O. Ubani SAN is reported to have published the said PREJUDICIAL comments in the face of an express order of Hon. Justice Binta Nyako issued on 4th April 2025 which forbade the two parties and their lawyers from making public statements about the said lawsuit!!!

To conclude, the courtroom drama that played out yesterday, 19th June 2025, holds a glimmer of hope for any right-thinking person who read the verdict of Hon. Justice Orji. All hope is not lost for Nigeria!!!

At least there are still a few judges that still have their heads on top of their shoulders (and not like those whose heads are up their arse-pardon my French!!!).

https://dailypost.ng/2025/06/19/at-last-natasha-arraigned-over-alleged-defamation-of-akpabio-yahaya-bello/The full report of the courtroom drama of 19th June 2025 is available online at:

The views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of Law & Society Magazine.