Politics

Federal Government Files Criminal Charges Against Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 22nd, 2025.

Federal Government Files Criminal Charges Against Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated criminal proceedings against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following controversial remarks she made during a live television appearance, where she alleged a plot to assassinate her. This was first reported by News360 Nigeria.

While the specific charges have not been fully disclosed to the public, one of them reportedly stems from a statement made by the senator during her appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello had conspired to have her eliminated.

Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant in the case, which has been filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan listed as the sole defendant.

According to the charge sheet, the senator is accused of violating Section 391 of the Penal Code, which concerns making defamatory statements with knowledge or reason to believe they could damage another person’s reputation. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same legal code.

During the interview in question, Akpoti-Uduaghan defended her claims, stating, “I stand by what I said. There was a discussion between Akpabio and Yahaya Bello regarding a plan to eliminate me. If not, why was my security detail withdrawn after my suspension?”

She continued, “Among the 109 senators, we all have different stories, but I’ve been particularly vulnerable due to the violent nature of my political journey since 2018. Removing my security detail just exposed me further to potential attacks.”

This is not the first time Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has spoken out about alleged threats to her life from influential political figures. Prior to the televised interview, she made similar accusations during a political rally in Kogi State. At the event, she claimed that Senate President Akpabio initially approached Governor Usman Ododo to facilitate her reinstatement in the Senate. After Ododo reportedly declined, Akpabio allegedly reached out to Yahaya Bello with a directive to “eliminate” her — insisting the act be carried out in Kogi to deflect suspicion from Abuja-based actors.

“I didn’t make that claim public initially, but we informed the police,” she said at the rally.

These developments come amid ongoing turbulence in the Nigerian Senate, marked by accusations of sexual harassment, political intimidation, and efforts to silence dissenting voices. Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment before her six-month suspension from the Senate, which was based on allegations unrelated to those claims.