THE Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), alleging that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central made defamatory remarks against him.
In the petition, which was signed by his legal representative, N.A. Abubakar, Bello urged the police to summon Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide credible evidence supporting her claims. Should she fail to do so, he requested that she be arrested and prosecuted under relevant laws for criminal defamation, incitement, and dissemination of false information capable of disturbing public peace.
Additionally, Bello, through another lawyer, R.O. Balogun, sent a formal letter to the senator demanding a public retraction and apology for the statements, warning of possible legal action if she fails to comply.
The former governor accused Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making the alleged defamatory statements during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in Okehi Local Government Area.
He claimed the senator falsely implicated him in an assassination plot.
According to the petition, Bello’s legal team argued that her allegations violate Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
They further contended that by accusing him of orchestrating an assassination and linking him to a fabricated murder scheme disguised as ethnic violence, the senator 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.
