Senate President Godswill Akpabio has written a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, asking for an investigation into what he called a false and dangerous accusation made by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In a letter dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio denied claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan that he ordered an attempt to assassinate her. He also demanded that she be prosecuted for criminal defamation and incitement.
The petition was also sent to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
During her homecoming in Kogi State on April 1, Akpoti-Uduaghan had publicly accused Akpabio of directing former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and current Governor Usman Ododo to kill her in the state, allegedly to make it look like her own people were behind it.
Reacting to the allegation, Akpabio described it as a “heinous lie” and “a reckless and deliberate attempt to destroy my image.”
“I write to formally bring to your attention and seek immediate investigation and prosecution of a criminally defamatory and malicious statement made against me by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan,” Akpabio said.
He explained that the false statement was widely shared on radio, TV, newspapers, and social media, and that it had caused serious harm to his reputation and personal safety.
“She falsely alleged that I instructed the former Governor of Kogi State to assassinate her in Kogi instead of Abuja, to make it look like her people were behind her death,” he said. “This is completely untrue and politically motivated.”
Akpabio accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of trying to incite political tension, saying her statement was made without any evidence and with the aim of turning the public against him.
“Her motive was clear—to incite the public, manipulate emotions, and paint me as a villain in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community,” he said.
He urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter urgently and take legal action to prevent such harmful statements in the future.
Akpabio concluded that public officeholders should be held responsible for their words, especially when those words could cause unrest or harm Nigeria’s democracy.
