The suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to wade into an alleged campaign of defamation and cyberstalking against her, as well as an attempt on her life by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and one Dr Sandra Duru.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, in the fresh petition, alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation and cyber-related offences.
In a petition, dated May 15, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, accused Akpabio of orchestrating a malicious campaign of criminal defamation, cyber-stalking, conspiracy, and attempted assassination against her.
The lawmaker, in the petition filed on her behalf by Ehiogie West-Idahosa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), averred that the petition is supported by incontrovertible evidence from public broadcasts, witness testimonies, media reports, and expert analyses.
She claimed that facts available to her demonstrate a deliberate retaliatory campaign by Akpabio, using proxies and resources at his disposal to harm her.
The senator, thereby, urged the minister to examine statements and actions of third-party collaborators who publicly endorsed the defamatory broadcast against her to determine their knowledge of and participation in the conspiracy.
Also in the petition, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that Duru, posing as “Prof. Mgbeke,” initially presented herself as a supporter but later demanded payment for “framing narratives” and rallying digital support.
“We believe the evidence will show a deliberate campaign to malign and endanger our client through false accusations,” Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team said.
The petition also alleged that Akpabio had a motive to retaliate against Akpoti-Uduaghan after she publicly accused him of sexual harassment.
On May 1, Ms Duru presented voice recordings and call logs allegedly from Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her claims during the live broadcast.
She also alleged that the senator confessed privately that Mr Akpabio had never sexually harassed her and that the accusations were fabricated solely to damage the Nigerian government’s image.
Additionally, Ms Duru claimed that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan referred to a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, and other supporters who appeared at the Senate hearing on her sexual harassment allegations against Mr Akpabio as “useful idiots,” suggesting they had been financially induced.
The activist also claimed that she persuaded Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan not to spread the alleged false narratives, but the suspended senator refused. Ms Duru said she has handed over all their communications to the appropriate security agencies for forensic investigation.
