- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has on Thursday slammed defamation suit against suspended Kogi state lawmaker, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a three-count criminal charges filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Kogi Central Senator was accused of allegedly making damaging allegations against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The suit with Charge No. CR/1277/25 was brought by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
As seen in the suit shared on X, the Federal Government accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of making imputations intended to harm reputations, contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
The first count was based on the lawmaker’s interview on Channels Television’s political programme, ‘Politics Today’, aired on April 3, 2025, where she accused Akpabio of plotting her assassination in collaboration with Yahaya Bello.
Natasha had in response to a question from the anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, claimed the Senate President and former Kogi governor held a meeting at night where they plotted to eliminate her.
“It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night, ehm… to eliminate me.” She said.
Natasha further claimed that the withdrawal of her official security details by the Senate upon her suspension was a deliberate plot to make her “vulnerable to attacks,” suggesting an orchestrated attempt on her life.
Prosecutors argue that these public statements were made with knowledge or reason to believe they would damage Akpabio’s reputation.
The second count further elaborated Natasha’s allegation against Bello during the interview where she claimed that a plan to assassinate her was not to be carried out in Abuja, but in Kogi State under Bello’s watch.
“A week and a few days later when [Akpabio] met with [Bello], he then emphasized that I should be killed… I delayed going home because I had to put some measures on ground.” she said.
The embattled lawmaker claimed to have reported the threats to the Inspector General of Police and made efforts to inform security operatives.
The prosecution contends that these allegations, made on national television, not only tarnished the character of Bello, but also presented a grave national security concern, especially given the implications of political violence.
The third charge referred to Natasha’s alleged telephone conversation with Sandra Duru where the lawmaker was said to have made a horrifying claim implicating the Senate President in an alleged killing and organ harvesting.
According to court documents, she stated: “There was this girl that was killed, what’s her name, umm… Iniobong Umoren… her organs were actually used for [Akpabio’s] wife, because the wife was really ill three years ago…”
This claim, referencing a real-life murder case that once shocked the nation, is now being legally framed as a malicious and unsubstantiated attack on Akpabio’s character, capable of inciting public outrage and diminishing public confidence in the leadership of the National Assembly.
The government argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan acted recklessly and with malicious intent, abusing her public platform to spread defamatory and inflammatory statements that have far-reaching consequences for national peace, security, and democratic integrity.
The presiding judge, Justice Orji ordered that efforts should not be spared in ensuring that she is served before the next adjourned date.