Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, has stood firmly by her claim that former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio were plotting to assassinate her—insisting she has concrete evidence to back her allegation.

Her response comes following a petition filed by Bello to the Inspector General of Police, accusing the senator of defamation and inciting public disturbance. The petition, signed by Bello’s lawyer, Mr. N.A. Abubakar, urged police authorities to investigate, compel Senator Natasha to present evidence, and prosecute her if found wanting.

But in a swift rebuttal during an interview with The PUNCH, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Victor Giwa, dismissed the petition as intimidation. “They should calm down and allow the police to do their job. There is already a petition to that effect with the IGP,” Giwa said. “To show that it wasn’t a mere allegation, Natasha has enough evidence to back up her point.”

The allegations stemmed from a statement Natasha made during a constituency visit to Okehi on April 1, 2025, where she claimed that Senate President Akpabio sought Bello’s assistance to assassinate her in Kogi State rather than in Abuja.

The Kogi State Government swiftly responded, labelling the claims “unfounded and inciting,” while Bello’s legal team described the statement as “false, reckless, and criminally defamatory.”

In a second petition by another legal firm, Chief R.O. Balogun SAN & Co, the former governor demanded a public apology and retraction of the statements, which were published in two national dailies. The petition cited the Cybercrimes Act 2015 and sections of the Penal Code, arguing that the dissemination of the allegation online compounded the damage to Bello’s reputation.

“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him a co-conspirator in a murder plot, Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has gravely damaged our client’s reputation, misled the public, and attempted to incite ethnic and political distrust,” Abubakar stated.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, remains defiant, urging the police to do their job professionally and vowing to provide all necessary evidence to support her claim.

Add TheNigeriaLawyer On Google News _______________________________________________________________________ New Year Promo: Get Five Maritime Law Books For N150,000 — 63% Discount The promotion, which commenced on January 8 and runs until February 8, 2026, offers five core maritime law books authored by Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, ordinarily valued at N405,000, for just N150,000 — a 63% discount. Interested buyers can place their orders through the following channels: Phone: 0704 329 3271 Online Store: https://paystack.shop/aa-bookstore Website: www.akabogulaw.com _______________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626