Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, calling for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged defamation, incitement, and spreading false information.
The former governor, through his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, submitted a formal petition to the IGP on Wednesday. In the petition, Bello accused Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, of making false and damaging statements about him during a public event in Okehi Local Government Area on April 1, 2025.
Bello, in his petition, alleged that the senator falsely accused him of being involved in a plot to assassinate individuals, disguising it as mob or ethnic violence. He said the statements made by the senator were not only false but were also made with malicious intent to damage his image and incite tension in Kogi Central.
“Where she fails to provide credible evidence to back her claims, the police should cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace.”
In a separate letter written to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Bello, through another lawyer, R.O. Balogun, demanded a full public retraction and apology. The letter warned that failure to meet this demand would lead to legal action, including a lawsuit for defamation.
According to the letter, the former governor views the senator’s remarks as politically motivated and aimed at damaging his reputation ahead of any future political plans.
“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a murder plot, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has gravely harmed our client’s reputation,” the letter read.
The legal team further claimed that the remarks were made in a “very public and politically charged” environment, with the aim of influencing public opinion against Bello and stirring up division among ethnic groups in the state.
The petition specifically cited **Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015**, which deals with the use of online platforms and public channels to spread false information that can cause harm or incite unrest.
Bello’s legal team argued that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s use of her platform to make these statements amounted to abuse of her parliamentary privileges and was an intentional attempt to incite public distrust.
They accused the senator of:
– Spreading unverified allegations about murder plots
– Portraying Bello as a violent political figure
– Attempting to divide communities in Kogi Central
– Damaging Bello’s political image and personal safety
This development comes amid ongoing political tension in Kogi State. Yahaya Bello, who served as governor from 2016 to 2024, has remained an influential political figure in the state and within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on the other hand, is a vocal member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). She won the Kogi Central senatorial seat after a tough election battle and has continued to criticize the former administration’s handling of state affairs.
This is not the first time both politicians have clashed. Their rivalry dates back to 2019, when Akpoti-Uduaghan contested for the governorship and accused Bello’s administration of voter suppression and intimidation. Since then, political tensions between them have persisted.
As of the time of this report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not issued any official response to the petition or the legal threats made by the former governor.
The petition has generated mixed reactions across social media and within Kogi State.
Supporters of the former governor have praised him for taking legal steps to clear his name, insisting that political figures should not make baseless allegations without proof.
However, supporters of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan have described the petition as an attempt to intimidate her and silence opposition voices in the state. Many have called for an independent investigation into the senator’s claims to establish the truth.
Some civil society groups have also weighed in, urging both parties to handle the matter responsibly and through lawful means, without escalating political tensions in the state.
If the police decide to act on the petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan could be invited for questioning. If she fails to provide evidence to back her claims, legal experts say she could face criminal charges under Nigeria’s defamation and cybercrime laws.
