Alleged Defamation: Bello petitions IGP, demands Natasha’s arrest

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.

“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.

The former governor also wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his lawyer, R.O. Balogun, demanding retraction and public apology over the alleged defamatory statements made against him or face legal consequences.

The former Kogi governor claimed the female lawmaker during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state “maliciously” defamed him and levelled assassination allegations against him.

Bello said the said actions of the female senator contravened 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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