Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is facing criminal charges linked to an alleged assassination plot, sparking nationwide political and legal controversy.
A storm of controversy surrounds suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the Federal Government formally files criminal charges against her for defamation. The move follows explosive allegations she made during a national television interview, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to assassinate her.
The charges, filed on May 16, 2025, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (case number CR/297/25), claim that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan knowingly made statements intended to damage reputations. The government is charging her under Section 391 of the Penal Code, punishable under Section 392, which deals with criminal defamation.
During her April 3 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the senator alleged that her life was in danger, blaming her political opponents for a supposed plot to eliminate her. She also accused the Senate leadership of deliberately withdrawing her security detail after her controversial suspension, leaving her exposed to potential harm.
The suspension itself occurred in March 2025, after Akpoti-Uduaghan raised sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio and clashed with the Senate leadership. The Ethics Committee dismissed her claims on procedural grounds and accused her of misconduct, including speaking out of turn and using abusive language, leading to a six-month suspension from legislative duties.
Now, with defamation charges filed, the stakes have grown significantly. The Federal Government maintains that her statements were not only reckless but also harmful, lacking the evidence required to support such serious claims. Akpabio and Bello are both listed as witnesses in the upcoming trial, further raising the political temperature around the case.
Critics argue that the charges reflect a troubling pattern of using legal tools to silence dissenting voices, particularly those that challenge powerful figures. Supporters of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan believe her claims deserve a transparent investigation rather than criminal prosecution. For them, this case is not just about defamation—it’s about the right to speak out without fear of retaliation.
Legal experts are divided. Some argue that the law must protect individuals from baseless public accusations, especially when reputations are on the line. Others insist that prosecuting a sitting—or even suspended—senator for speaking out sets a dangerous precedent in a democracy.
As the case proceeds, it could have far-reaching implications for political discourse, freedom of expression, and the boundaries of accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system. Whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is vindicated or convicted, the outcome is bound to influence how public officials—and private citizens—choose to speak truth to power.
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