The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following statements she made during a televised interview accusing high-ranking political figures of plotting her assassination.
The charges stem from her appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025, during which she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plan to eliminate her.
According to a charge sheet obtained by SaharaReporters, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant in the case, filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is the sole defendant.
The government alleges she committed an offence under Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, which criminalizes making imputations likely to harm a person’s reputation.
If convicted, she could face punishment under Section 392 of the same code.
During the interview, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “I do stand by what I said… Ask the Senate President why he withdrew my security if not to make me vulnerable to attacks… I have been a high-profile, vulnerable individual…
“So stripping me of my security… just positions me before attacks.”
She also alleged that the Senate President orchestrated a meeting with Yahaya Bello at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja to plan her recall and potential assassination.
The senator claimed the plan included staging the murder to appear as if it was carried out by locals in Kogi State.
Prior to the TV interview, she had made similar claims at a homecoming rally in Kogi State and had previously accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment—claims that were followed by her controversial six-month suspension from the Senate for alleged “misconduct.”
This development comes amid wider turbulence in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, with increasing concerns about political intimidation, suppression of dissent, and lack of accountability.
