The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations she made on national television.
During a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
The senator claimed Akpabio had withdrawn her security to make her vulnerable to attacks and alleged that Akpabio had directed Yahaya Bello to kill her, specifying that the act should not be carried out in Abuja to avoid implicating himself.
The charge sheet lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and cites Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, which pertains to making imputations that could harm a person’s reputation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations against Akpabio and Bello are part of a larger controversy surrounding the Nigerian Senate, including unresolved allegations of sexual harassment and suppression of dissenting voices.
In February 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of assault, but the Senate’s ethics committee dismissed her claims due to procedural errors, leading to her six-month suspension for alleged misconduct.
As the first female senator from Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan has been a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, known for her dedication to social justice and economic development.
Her recent controversies have sparked nationwide protests and discussions about the challenges women face in high-profile positions.
