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, representing Kogi Central District.
In a petition submitted to the IGP on Wednesday, and signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, Bello called for the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to provide credible evidence to support her allegations. He further urged that, should she fail to substantiate her claims, the senator be arrested and prosecuted for criminal defamation, incitement of public disturbance, and spreading false information harmful to public peace.
Additionally, Bello’s legal team sent a letter to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her lawyer, R.O. Balogun, demanding a retraction and public apology for the alleged defamatory remarks. The former governor warned of legal consequences if these demands are not met.
Bello claims that during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made malicious accusations against him, including allegations of involvement in a plot to assassinate her.
The former governor argued that these actions by the senator violated Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015. He said that by accusing him of conspiring to assassinate her and falsely naming him as part of a supposed murder plot—while attempting to disguise it as mob or ethnic violence—Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan severely tarnished his reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political figure.
He also accused her of misleading the public and attempting to stir ethnic and political divisions, particularly among the Ebiraland clans and the broader people of Kogi Central. Furthermore, he stated that such a serious allegation, if left unchallenged, could harm his political career and personal safety. Bello also criticized Akpoti-Uduaghan for abusing her parliamentary position to spread falsehoods in a highly public and politically charged environment, without providing any credible evidence.
