The Nigerian government has filed defamation charges against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she publicly accused two high-profile politicians of plotting to assassinate her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged in April that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello conspired to have her “eliminated. Both men have denied the allegations, calling them baseless and damaging.
The charges, filed by the attorney general at the High Court, cite statements made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live interview on Channels TV. In the interview, she said there had been discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello… to eliminate me. According to the government, such statements constitute defamation and could significantly harm the reputations of the two political figures.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has not yet issued a public response to the charges, and no court date has been announced.
This legal development is the latest in a series of events that have stirred national debate over gender dynamics, political accountability, and power structures in Nigeria.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators in Nigeria’s 109-member Senate, has been at the center of controversy since February when she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment a claim he firmly denies.
In response to her accusations, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay, citing what it described as unruly and disruptive behavior during the proceedings in which she made her claims.
Supporters of the senator have argued that the suspension was retaliatory, aimed at silencing her for speaking out against powerful male figures in the country’s highest legislative body.
In a March interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan likened the Senate to a cult and expressed concern for her safety and that of her young child after her official security detail was withdrawn.
Her suspension and now the government’s defamation case have ignited concerns among civil rights groups and women’s advocates, who argue that she is being persecuted for challenging entrenched male dominance in Nigerian politics.
As the legal battle unfolds, the case continues to attract attention both locally and internationally, with many watching closely to see how Nigeria’s judiciary will navigate the complex intersection of politics, gender, and free speech.
