Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, accusing her of making defamatory statements during a political rally. The petition, drafted by Bello’s solicitor, Mr. N.A. Abubakar Esq., demands the senator substantiate her claims or face arrest and prosecution for criminal defamation and incitement.
Bello alleges that Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, falsely accused him of plotting her assassination and conspiring with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a “Homecoming Rally” in Okehi LGA on April 1, 2025. The senator’s statements, which claimed Bello was instructed to fund her recall and orchestrate her murder outside Abuja, were widely circulated online, according to the petition.
Bello’s legal team argues that these remarks are “false, reckless, and inciting,” violating Nigerian laws, including the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Penal Code. They claim the allegations have damaged his reputation, misled the public, and incited ethnic and political distrust in Kogi State.
In a separate letter from Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN & Co., Bello has demanded Akpoti-Uduaghan retract the statements and issue a public apology within 14 days, threatening legal action if she fails to comply. The petition urges the IGP to act swiftly to protect public order and prevent the misuse of political platforms for spreading falsehoods.
