…Demands Prosecution of Senator Natasha Over Alleged Defamatory Claims
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, requesting the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over what he described as criminally defamatory remarks made against him at a political rally.
The petition, signed by Mr. N.A. Abubakar, one of Bello’s legal representatives, alleges that the senator’s statements during a ‘Homecoming Rally’ in Okehi Local Government Area on April 1, 2025, were not only false but also reckless and inflammatory, amounting to criminal defamation and incitement capable of disturbing public peace.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the letter to the IGP read.
The former governor also, through Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN & Co., has issued a formal demand to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for a retraction and public apology, citing specific remarks she made that allegedly linked him to a murder plot.
The solicitors wrote, “Our Client’s attention has been drawn to a most disturbing, damaging and criminally defamatory statement made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, during her public address at a political event tagged ‘Homecoming Rally’ held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Okehi LGA of Kogi State.
“That while addressing attendees at the rally, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely and maliciously uttered the following words in reference to our client: ‘(Senate President Godswill) Akpabio sent for Yahaya Bello. And it was actually Senator Asuquo from Cross River that drove Yahaya Bello from Hilton Hotel.
“I was informed of everything and what I got to know of the meeting was in two folds. He told him to commence my recall and that he was going to fund it – of course, monies changed hands that night.
“The second thing he told him was that he should try and kill me. I didn’t make this public, but I wrote to the IG of Police. Akpabio told Yahaya Bello. He told him that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, that it should be done here, so it would seem as if it’s the people that killed me here …’
Bello’s legal team described the claims as “false, reckless and inciting” and argued they were designed to mislead the public and incite political and ethnic tensions within Kogi Central.
The petition invoked Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, citing the online circulation of videos from the rally as intentional acts to damage Bello’s reputation, alongside Sections 114 and 140 of the Penal Code which criminalise false information and incitement.
Bello’s solicitor stated, “By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:
“Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.
“Brought his name into disrepute on the basis of an allegation so weighty that, if left unchallenged, could harm his political career and personal safety; and abused her parliamentary status and platform by propagating such falsehoods without evidence, in a very public and politically charged setting,”
The letter accused the senator of abusing her platform and status by making baseless allegations, and claimed her statement was a calculated move to destabilise public peace.
The legal representatives demanded a formal retraction published in two national newspapers; an undertaking to desist from further defamatory remarks; Compliance within 14 days, or face civil and criminal proceedings without further notice
Bello’s lawyers further urged the Inspector General of Police to act swiftly, warning that failure to prosecute could embolden others to make similarly dangerous political claims.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has yet to issue a formal response to the allegations.
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