Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (1).webp
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was arraigned in Abuja on Thursday over allegations of defamation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello. She pleaded not guilty.

  • The charges stem from claims she made in a TV interview and a private phone call.
  • Akpoti had previously alleged that Akpabio and Bello plotted to assassinate her.
  • The FG is charging her under sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code.
  • Both Akpabio and Bello had earlier petitioned the police over her statements.
  • Akpoti says the suit and her Senate suspension are attempts to silence her.

This isn’t just a courtroom matter; it’s a political storm that highlights how defamation, free speech, and gendered power play intersect at Nigeria’s highest levels of governance. It puts a sitting female senator toe-to-toe with two powerful male figures - one current, one former. Is this a legal reckoning or a warning shot to dissenters?

With tensions rising in the Red Chamber, all eyes will be on the judiciary. Will this case test the boundaries of political speech and accountability in Nigeria’s democracy?