In a dramatic twist that has intensified the political storm surrounding Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, the Federal Government has filed criminal charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following a series of explosive allegations she made during a live television interview. The charges, now lodged before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, stem from her bold accusations implicating powerful political figures in a purported plot to assassinate her.
Though the full list of charges remains under wraps, SaharaReporters obtained court filings revealing that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is being prosecuted under Section 391 of the Penal Code for “making imputations with knowledge or reason to believe they would harm the reputation of another,” a charge punishable under Section 392.
The complainant in the case is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the embattled senator is named as the sole defendant.
The controversy was sparked by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025. During the broadcast, she accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of orchestrating plans to have her eliminated.
“I am glad you did admit that I am a lawyer, and even if I am not a lawyer, I am a sane individual, and I do stand by what I said,” she asserted. “In respect to the meeting or discussion Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.”
She further questioned the withdrawal of her security detail by the Senate President, insinuating it was a calculated move to expose her to danger.
“Just ask the Senate President why did he withdraw my security if not to make me vulnerable to attacks… Stripping me of my security because I am suspended illegally just positions me for attacks,” she declared.
This is not the first time Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has raised alarm over threats to her life. Speaking at a homecoming rally in Kogi State weeks before her TV appearance, she painted a disturbing picture of political scheming and alleged assassination plots.
“The Senate President first reached out to Governor Ododo to recall me, but Ododo declined. So he turned to Yahaya Bello,” she said. “It was Senator Asuquo who drove Bello to the Hiltons. The meeting was in two folds—first, to begin my recall; second, to have me killed.”
In an even more chilling twist, she claimed Akpabio gave explicit instructions on how and where the assassination should occur.
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello to ensure that my killing does not happen in Abuja. It should be done here [Kogi State] so it would appear as though the people killed me,” she alleged, adding that the matter had been reported to the police.
These revelations come amid mounting controversy and turbulence in the Nigerian Senate. From sexual harassment allegations to accusations of authoritarian leadership and the suppression of dissenting voices, the upper chamber has become a flashpoint of political conflict.
Senator Natasha herself was suspended for six months by the Senate, a move many critics say was retaliatory. Officially, the suspension was linked to “misconduct,” but many believe it was retribution for her sexual harassment accusation against Senate President Akpabio.
The federal government’s decision to prosecute Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to trigger both legal and political aftershocks. Rights groups, legal analysts, and opposition parties are already questioning whether the charges represent a genuine pursuit of justice—or a politically motivated crackdown on a vocal critic.
As the case unfolds, Nigerians and the international community will be watching closely to see whether this moment marks a defense of the rule of law or the deepening of political intimidation in Africa’s largest democracy.
Senator Natasha remains defiant, standing by her words and maintaining that her actions stem from a desire to expose the rot within Nigeria’s political system.
The court is yet to fix a date for the arraignment.
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