Senate President Godswill Akpabio has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking an investigation into what he described as a false and defamatiry assassination allegation made against him by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In the petition dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio also requested the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation. The letter was also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The controversy stems from an April 1 statement made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a homecoming event in Ihima, Kogi State. She alleged that Akpabio instructed former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and current Governor Usman Ododo to assassinate her in Kogi State, in an attempt to frame her constituents for the crime.
Akpabio strongly denied the accusation, calling it “a heinous lie” and a “deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest.” He described the statement as politically motivated, lacking any evidence, and designed to tarnish his image both locally and internationally.
“This statement is not only false and unfounded, but a calculated act of blackmail and character assassnation. Her motive was clear—to incite the public, manipulate sentiment, and malign my person and office,” Akpabio stated.
He also noted the serious impact of the allegation, which gained traction across media platforms including TV, radio, newspapers, and social media.
Calling for swift action, Akpabio urged law enforcement to treat the matter with urgency and prosecute Akpoti-Uduaghan under laws related to d+famation, false accusation, and incitement.
