According to Punch, suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been accused by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of uttering defamatory remarks against him in an official complaint filed with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).The petition, filed by Bello’s attorney, Mr. N.A. Abubakar, focuses on recent comments made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in which she alleged that both the former governor and the current Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, were conspiring to have her killed.
The allegations were reportedly made during a constituency visit by the Senator to Okehi in Kogi State.In her remarks, she asserted that “Akpabio asked Bello for assistance in carrying out the assassination in Kogi State instead of Abuja.”This claim quickly sparked a strong backlash, with the Kogi State Government promptly labeling the accusations as “baseless and provocative.”In light of these serious allegations, Yahaya Bello urged the police to take swift action.He called on law enforcement to summon the Senator for questioning and to require her to provide solid, verifiable evidence to back her claims.
The petition also demands repercussions if she fails to substantiate her accusations.“If she does not do so, she should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law for criminal defamation, inciting public unrest, and disseminating false information harmful to public order,” the petition stated.Bello’s legal team stressed that the allegations made by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan were not only unfounded but also dangerously provocative.They described her remarks as “false, reckless, and inciting,” claiming that such statements could lead to unrest and amounted to criminal defamation under Nigerian law.Despite the former governor’s petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has remained steadfast in her allegations.
In an interview with The PUNCH, her attorney, Victor Giwa, dismissed the former governor’s petition.He claimed that his client had sufficient evidence to support her allegations and called for calm while the police conduct their investigation.’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.He further added, “To show that it wasn’t a mere allegation, Natasha has enough evidence to back up her point.”The situation is still developing, with tensions running high as both parties stand firmly by their positions.Bello aims to vindicate himself and take legal action against what he considers to be a defamation of character, while Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan maintains that her assertions are both authentic and supported by evidence.
