Suspended Senator for Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly denied allegations made against her by UK-based Nigerian businesswoman Sandra Duru, also known as Prof Mgbeke.
In a Facebook livestream on Thursday evening, Duru accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of falsely accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. Duru also claimed that Senator Natasha tried to recruit her into a media campaign against Akpabio, offering millions in naira and large sums in US dollars. According to Duru, the ultimate goal of the campaign was to oust Akpabio and weaken President Bola Tinubu by removing a key ally in the National Assembly.
Duru supported her claims by playing audio recordings during the livestream, which she said were phone conversations between herself and Senator Natasha.
However, in a statement released on Friday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the allegations as “false,” accusing Duru of acting on behalf of Senate President Akpabio.
“I watched Sandra C. Duru’s livestream on May 1, 2025, and the content, including the voice attributed to me, is entirely untrue and has been manipulated to serve a script orchestrated by Senator Godswill Akpabio,” Natasha said. She added, “To my knowledge, those words are false and did not come from any legitimate interaction with me. I also discovered that Sandra Duru previously operated under the name Prof. Mgbeke on Facebook.”
Senator Natasha said she would provide a more detailed response to the “unfounded allegations” at a later time.
Background: Allegations and suspension
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan first accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment in February 2025 during a televised interview. She alleged that Akpabio made inappropriate comments, suggesting her legislative proposal would only be considered if she “took care” of him and inviting her to spend private time with him.
Akpabio denied the allegations, asserting that he had never harassed any woman and urging Nigerians to allow the court to handle the matter.
On March 6, 2025, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay, citing her “unruly and disruptive” conduct. Her sexual harassment complaint was dismissed on procedural grounds, as she had submitted it herself, violating Senate rules that require such complaints to be submitted through another senator.
The suspension followed a dispute over a new seating arrangement in the Senate chamber, which Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed was designed to humiliate her. She later told national TV that her suspension was retaliation for rejecting Akpabio’s alleged advances, a claim he denied.
The Senate stated that the suspension could be lifted if Akpoti-Uduaghan issued a written apology. The suspension sparked widespread protests under the slogan “We Are All Natasha,” with rallies held in cities including Lagos, Enugu, Edo, and Kaduna.
Akpoti-Uduaghan described the suspension as a “witch-hunt” and claimed it was an attempt to silence her. She took her case to the international stage at a Women in Parliament event at the United Nations, calling the Senate’s actions illegal and seeking global support.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed a petition to recall her, citing failure to meet constitutional standards.
The two senators have had previous clashes, including in July 2024, when Akpabio publicly reprimanded Akpoti-Uduaghan during a Senate session, saying, “We are not in a nightclub,” after she spoke without recognition. The remark drew criticism as “sexist,” prompting a public apology from Akpabio.
