Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police, accusing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of making defamatory and inciting remarks against him during a recent political rally.
The petition, signed by Bello’s solicitor, N.A. Abubakar, urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s statements and compel her to provide evidence or face arrest and prosecution.
According to the petition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, made allegations during her “Homecoming Rally” on April 1, 2025, in Okehi Local Government Area, claiming that Bello conspired to recall her from the Senate and was involved in a plot to assassinate her.
Quoting her remarks, the petition said, “Senate President Godswill Akpabio sent for Yahaya Bello… he told him to commence my recall and fund it. The second thing he told him was that he should try and kill me… Akpabio told Yahaya Bello that the killing must not happen in Abuja but here, to make it look like a local attack.”
Bello, through his lawyers, insists the claims are “false, inciting and criminally defamatory.” The petition cites relevant laws, including the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015, and Sections 114 and 140 of the Penal Code, which prohibit the dissemination of false information likely to incite public unrest or mislead public officials.
“Our client believes that these allegations are entirely baseless and crafted to tarnish his reputation,” said Abubakar. “By accusing him of plotting murder, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has dangerously misled the public and attempted to sow ethnic and political division in Kogi State.”
The petition also criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for circulating videos of the speech on social media, accusing her of deliberate attempts to damage Bello’s image.
In a separate letter, Bello’s legal team led by Chief R.O. Balogun (SAN) demanded a public retraction of the statements within 14 days, to be published in two national newspapers. Failure to comply, the letter warns, would prompt both civil and criminal proceedings.
“Our client is no longer under any obligation to ignore her wild claims as he did while serving as governor. He is seeking full legal redress to protect his name and reputation,” the letter stated.
Bello’s legal representatives further described the senator as exhibiting “manic narcissism, delusions, and emotional incontinence,” claiming he had shown patience in the past but could no longer tolerate her alleged fabrications.
The petition concludes with a call for swift action from the police to prevent the abuse of political platforms for spreading dangerous falsehoods, which could destabilize public peace.
