By Ebenezer Mabinuola
The Federal Government has initiated criminal proceedings against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following explosive allegations she made during a televised interview in April. The charges, filed on May 16, 2025, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, accuse her of defamation under the Penal Code.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her. She claimed her official security was withdrawn to make her vulnerable and alleged high-level meetings were held to plan her elimination.
The government argues her statements were made “knowing or having reason to believe” they could damage the reputations of those named — a violation that could carry penalties under Section 392 of the Penal Code.
The Senator, who remains defiant, has stood by her comments and insists she previously alerted police to the alleged threats. The legal action follows earlier political friction between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate leadership. She had previously accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim dismissed by the Senate, which later suspended her for “misconduct” — a charge that has yet to be fully detailed.
This case, already drawing national attention, is expected to test Nigeria’s commitment to free speech and institutional integrity amid a turbulent political climate in the National Assembly.
