Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) concerning alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central District.
In the petition, signed by his lawyer N.A. Abubakar and submitted to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello requested that the police summon Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide credible evidence to support her allegations against him.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote.
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In addition to his petition to the IGP, former Governor Yahaya Bello, through his lawyer R.O. Balogun, has also written to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan demanding a retraction and public apology for the alleged defamatory statements she made against him, warning of potential legal action if she fails to comply.
The former Kogi governor alleged that during a homecoming event in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state on April 1, 2025, the female lawmaker “maliciously” defamed his character and made assassination allegations against him.
Bello contended that these actions by the senator violated Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:
“Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.
“Brought his name into disrepute on the basis of an allegation so weighty that, if left unchallenged, could harm his political career and personal safety; and abused her parliamentary status and platform by propagating such falsehoods without evidence, in a very public and politically charged setting,” the solicitor said.
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