Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan Faces Criminal Charges Over Explosive Assassination Allegations Against Akpabio, Bello

By iNewsAfrica | Abuja Bureau | May 23, 2025

IN SUMMARY:

The Nigerian government has filed criminal defamation charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she publicly accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination. The controversial case, now before the High Court in Abuja, underscores escalating tensions between Nigeria’s political elite and vocal reformists.

IN BRIEF:

• Who: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

• What: Sued for criminal defamation over alleged assassination claims

• Accused Parties: Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello

• When: Charges filed May 16, 2025

• Where: Federal High Court, Abuja

• Why It Matters: Raises concerns over political retaliation, gendered silencing, and rule of law in Nigeria

FULL STORY:

ABUJA – May 23, 2025 | iNewsAfrica – The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated criminal proceedings against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following her bombshell allegation that two of the nation’s top political figures conspired to assassinate her.

Filed on May 16, 2025, by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the charges accuse Akpoti-Uduaghan of criminal defamation under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code. The government alleges that the senator knowingly made damaging statements about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello during a live broadcast.

On April 3, in an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Akpabio and Bello plotted to “eliminate” her, allegedly orchestrating the plan to make her death appear as a local incident within Kogi State. She further implied that the sudden withdrawal of her police protection was part of a broader plan to expose her to harm.

“The government has moved swiftly to defend the integrity of its institutions,” a senior official told iNewsAfrica, emphasizing the need to address what it considers “reckless and defamatory conduct.”

The Senator, however, stands her ground. In a recent press briefing, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused law enforcement of selectively ignoring her petitions against Akpabio and Bello, even as they rapidly prosecute the case against her. “I demand equal justice,” she declared. “If the state can act on their complaint, why have my own reports remained untouched?”

This is not the senator’s first confrontation with the establishment. Earlier this year, she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment—an allegation he firmly denied. The Senate later suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, citing “disruptive behavior” and violating parliamentary decorum.

Her supporters say the charges and suspension are part of a coordinated effort to silence outspoken women in Nigeria’s male-dominated political space.

As the case heads to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, legal experts and civil society observers are closely watching. “This trial may set a precedent on how Nigeria balances defamation laws with the constitutional right to freedom of speech,” said a Lagos-based constitutional lawyer.

No official trial date has been announced yet. The political and legal implications of this high-profile case promise to reverberate well beyond the courtroom.

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