Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally requested an investigation from Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun regarding an alleged assassination plot against him purportedly orchestrated by suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a letter dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio denied the allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan, asserting that she should face prosecution for criminal defamation.
The petition also included a copy sent to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and follows statements made by Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 1, 2025.
During a homecoming event in Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of directing former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello along with Governor Usman Ododo to carry out the alleged assassination, claiming the aim was to falsely implicate her constituents in her demise.
In response, Akpabio condemned the claims as a “heinous lie” and labeled them as a “reckless and deliberate attempt” to damage his reputation.
He deemed the allegations politically motivated, suggesting that Akpoti-Uduaghan was trying to incite unrest and tarnish his public image without any supporting evidence.
Akpabio emphasised the serious ramifications of these allegations given their extensive media coverage across various platforms, including radio, television, and social media. He called upon law enforcement agencies to address the situation with the appropriate level of seriousness.
He said, “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.
“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.
“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.
“I categorically state that this allegation is entirely false, unfounded, and politically motivated. It is a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination, designed to portray me as a political villain, and the statement was made without any shred of truth or supporting evidence.”
Akpabio added that the statement was intended to manipulate public sentiment and malign his person and office.
He emphasised the importance of holding public officeholders accountable for their actions, particularly when such statements are intended to destabilise democratic institutions and tarnish the image of elected officials.
“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.
“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,” he added.
Akpabio also called for the “immediate investigation into the false and inciting allegation” and the prosecution of “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan under the relevant provisions of the law for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
