Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a formal complaint with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking an official probe into what he describes as a baseless and dangerous accusation leveled against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
According to Naija News, the petition, dated April 3, 2025, follows a public statement made by Akpoti-Uduaghan two days earlier, in which she accused Akpabio of directing former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to carry out an assassination attempt on her life. She alleged that the plot was designed to make it appear as though the attack originated from members of her own constituency.
In response, Akpabio has denied the allegation outright, calling it a “heinous lie” and a “reckless and deliberate attempt” to damage his name and reputation. He has asked that Akpoti-Uduaghan be prosecuted for what he describes as criminal defamation.
The Senate President believes the accusation is politically charged, suggesting that it was made with the intent to stir unrest and mislead the public. He argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan presented no evidence to support her claims and that the accusation had already done significant reputational damage due to widespread media coverage.
In the petition submitted to the IGP, Akpabio wrote: “I write to formally bring to your attention and seek immediate investigation and prosecution of a criminally defamatory and malicious statement made against me by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended member of the Nigerian Senate on the 1st of April, 2025 and which was widely publicised on radio stations, televisions and newspapers, including the social media.”
He elaborated further:
“In the public outburst at Kogi State while addressing her audience, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely alleged that I instructed the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to ‘assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja’ with the intent of making it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.”
Akpabio categorically rejected the accusation, stating that it was “a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest.”
He accused the senator of seeking to sway public opinion with false narratives, saying:
“Her motive was clear, which was to incite the public, manipulate sentiments, and malign my person and office in the eyes of the Nigerian people and the international community.”
To conclude his petition, Akpabio urged law enforcement to open an investigation into the allegation and to take legal action. He called for the “immediate investigation into the false and inciting allegation” and the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation, false accusation, incitement, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
