Suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has fired back at Senate President Godswill Akpabio following his formal petition to the Inspector General of Police, accusing her of criminal defamation and incitement over an alleged assassination plot.
Akpabio, in a petition dated April 3 and also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), urged the police to investigate claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a public appearance in Kogi State on April 1.
The Senate President described the allegations as “heinous lies,” stating they were intended to tarnish his image and provoke unrest.
“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 said in the petition.
“It is a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination, designed to portray me as a political villain. 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.”
The controversial claim follows Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation that Akpabio instructed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to orchestrate her assassination, disguising the act to appear as though it emanated from her constituents.
Through her legal counsel, Victor Giwa, Senator Natasha responded to the petition, insisting that her remarks were a genuine expression of fear for her life and not a political stunt.
“She has received the petition and has responded. What happened when she made that statement was her crying out to the general public to understand what she is exposed to,” Giwa said.
Giwa also condemned the Senate’s decision to withdraw the senator’s security detail shortly after her suspension, arguing that it left her vulnerable despite being a high-risk political figure.
“You are aware that the Senate President ordered the withdrawal of her security. If somebody has committed gross misconduct, what has that got to do with the withdrawal of her security?
“I mean, you say she’s not going to the office, okay fine, I mean, you don’t need the security to enter the office.
“You did stop her from coming to carry out her legislative duty as a senator but she has her life outside the Senate complex. And she’s a politically exposed person and you ordered her security details to be withdrawn!”
Akpoti-Uduaghan is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate.
