Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
By Victory Oghene
The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over an alleged assassination plot claim.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), were lodged at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and stem from comments Natasha allegedly made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
In the case marked FCT/HC/CR/297/2025, the senator was accused of making statements that could harm the reputations of prominent individuals, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
During the interview, Natasha alleged that both men were plotting to assassinate her — a claim the government argues amounts to criminal defamation.
Count one of the charge states that the lawmaker “made an imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation would harm the reputation of a person,” in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same code.
The charges come on the heels of heightened tension surrounding Natasha’s ongoing rift with the Senate leadership, particularly Akpabio, whom she previously accused of sexual harassment.
It will be recalled that Natasha had a heated argument on the floor of the Senate on February 20, following a dispute over a change in her seating arrangement.
The Kogi senator expressed outrage and accused the Senate President of persistently harassing her.
“My refusal to yield to his consistent advances, both within and outside the country, is the reason behind the victimisation I face in the Senate. It all started on December 8, 2023, a day before our shared birthday,” she claimed.
Senator Akpabio has consistently denied the allegations leveled against him by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan
