Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has officially petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, requesting a thorough investigation and prosecution of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged criminal defamation and an assassination plot accusation.
The petition, which was submitted on April 3, 2025, comes in the wake of serious allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a public event in Kogi State on April 1, 2025.
Speaking at a homecoming event, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of orchestrating an assassination attempt against her.
She claimed that Akpabio had instructed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and the state’s current Governor Usman Ododo to carry out the plot within Kogi State, framing the attack as a local act by her constituents.
In his petition to the IGP, which was also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Akpabio vehemently denied the accusation, calling it a “heinous lie” and a “deliberate attempt” to destroy his reputation.
The Senate President argued that the allegations were politically motivated and intended to stir unrest while damaging his public image, especially as they were made without any proof.
Akpabio’s petition reads, “I write to formally bring to your attention and seek immediate investigation and prosecution of a criminal defamation and malicious statement made against me by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended member of the Nigerian Senate on the 1st of April, 2025, which was widely publicized on radio stations, televisions, newspapers, and social media.”
He went on to describe the false nature of the allegations, emphasizing that Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused him of directing Yahaya Bello to “assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja,” with the intention of blaming her death on her own constituents.
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Akpabio stressed the gravity of the statement and the potential danger it posed to his life and security, describing it as not only a lie but a reckless attempt to undermine his standing.
“This statement is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest,” Akpabio stated in his petition.
He further underscored that the accusations were unfounded and entirely politically motivated, aimed at portraying him as a villain in the eyes of both the Nigerian public and the international community.
The Senate President also condemned Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions as an attempt to manipulate public opinion and tarnish his office. He emphasized that public officials must be held accountable, particularly when their statements have the potential to destabilize democratic institutions.
“The severity of this false allegation, and the fact that it has gained public traction, makes it necessary that law enforcement agencies treat it with the urgency it deserves,” Akpabio added.
He concluded his petition by calling for an “immediate investigation” into the claims and for the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan under the relevant laws for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.