Sh*ckwave In Senate: FG Slams Criminal Charges Against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her public accusations that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello conspired to have her assassinated.

The charges were submitted to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja and are linked to statements the senator made on April 3, 2025, during an appearance on Politics Today, a live programme aired on Channels Television.

According to the charge sheet obtained by SaharaReporters, the government alleges that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made defamatory statements “knowing or having reason to believe” they would damage reputations, thereby violating Section 391 of the Penal Code — an offence punishable under Section 392.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, with Akpoti-Uduaghan named as the sole defendant.

During the interview, the lawmaker from Kogi Central reaffirmed her claim, stating:

“I stand by what I said — that there was a meeting or discussion between Akpabio and Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.”

She also claimed her Senate security was withdrawn shortly before the alleged threats, which she believes was a deliberate move to leave her exposed.

“Stripping me of my security because I was suspended illegally… it just made me a sitting target,” she added.

Senator Natasha has previously spoken out about threats to her life. At a recent homecoming event in Kogi, she claimed Akpabio offered financial support to Yahaya Bello to initiate her recall from the Senate and allegedly have her assassinated.

“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to kill me… but not in Abuja. He said it should happen in Kogi, so it would look like the people did it. Though I didn’t make this public initially, we informed the police,” she said, alleging that the plot was discussed at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja and involved an exchange of money.

These charges surface amid ongoing controversies in the Senate, including her suspension for alleged “misconduct” and claims of sexual harassment against the Senate President, which remain uninvestigated. Civil society groups have criticized the Senate leadership for allegedly suppressing dissent and targeting whistleblowers.