The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged defamation, stemming from her claims on national television that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello plotted her assassination

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian government has initiated criminal proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following incendiary statements she made on national television, alleging an assassination plot against her.

Also read: Court sets date for judgment in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension case

While the full details of the charges remain unconfirmed, a central accusation is linked to her appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.

During the live broadcast, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explicitly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of conspiring to assassinate her.

A charge sheet, reportedly obtained by SaharaReporters, names the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

I am glad you did admit that I am a lawyer, and even if I am not a lawyer, I am a sane individual, and I do stand by what I said. In respect to the meeting or discussion Akpabio had [with] Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.

The government’s charge cites Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990, accusing the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person.” The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.

In the televised interview, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan firmly stood by her assertions, stating, “I am glad you did admit that I am a lawyer, and even if I am not a lawyer, I am a sane individual, and I do stand by what I said.

In respect to the meeting or discussion Akpabio had [with] Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.” She further questioned, “Just ask the Senate President why did he withdraw my security if not to make me vulnerable to attacks.”

She highlighted her history as a “high profiled, vulnerable individual” due to the “very violent and dangerous” nature of her political journey since 2018, noting that stripping her of security, even during an illegal suspension, exposed her to potential attacks.

This is not the first instance where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised alarms regarding threats to her life, allegedly linking them to influential figures within Nigeria’s political class.

Weeks prior to the television interview, during a homecoming rally in Kogi State, she claimed that Senate President Akpabio had initially approached Governor Ododo for her recall but, upon Ododo’s refusal, turned to Yahaya Bello.

She specifically alleged that a meeting took place at the Hilton, where Akpabio supposedly instructed Yahaya Bello to not only initiate her recall but also to “kill me,” with specific instructions that the act should occur in Kogi State to make it appear as if the local populace was responsible.

She stated that while she had not made this public at the time, the police were indeed notified.

These dramatic statements emerge amidst a period of considerable controversy within the Nigerian Senate, marked by unresolved allegations of sexual harassment, concerns over security intimidation, and accusations of suppressing dissenting voices.

Also read: US-based media practitioner insists suspended senator, Natasha, plans to destroy Akpabio, shares video evidence

Notably, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had previously accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, though her subsequent six-month suspension by the Senate was officially attributed to “misconduct” rather than her serious allegations.