Yahaya Bello Petitions IGP To Arrest Natasha Akpoti Over ‘Defamatory’ Comments

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of making damaging and false statements about him.

In the petition, which was signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, Bello requested that the police arrest and prosecute Natasha if she fails to provide solid evidence to back up her claims.

The accusations in question reportedly came during a political rally held on April 1, 2025, in Okehi Local Government Area, Kogi State.

During the event, Natasha Akpoti allegedly claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had asked Bello to launch a campaign to recall her from office and also fund the process.

She also reportedly accused Akpabio of directing Yahaya Bello to have her killed outside Abuja in a way that would make it appear like she was attacked by a mob.

Bello, through his lawyer, described the comments as not only false and reckless but also dangerous.

According to him, the remarks amount to criminal defamation, false accusation, and incitement of public unrest—all of which, he said, are serious crimes under Nigerian law.

The petition argued that these allegations paint Bello as a violent political figure and could incite division among communities in Kogi Central, especially among ethnic groups in Ebiraland.

“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan 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,” the petition reads.

The lawyer added that such claims have harmed Bello’s reputation and could affect both his political future and personal safety.

“Our client has long considered Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be erratic and often driven by delusional narratives,” he said, claiming Bello had previously avoided legal confrontation with Natasha Akpoti while he was Kogi governor out of a sense of responsibility.

Bello’s lawyer noted that now that he’s no longer governor, he intends to take full legal action over what he called “completely made-up” allegations.

Bello’s legal team urged the police to act swiftly, warning that failure to address such serious accusations could encourage others to use political platforms to spread lies and manipulate public opinion, which could harm Nigeria’s democracy.

In addition to the police petition, Yahaya Bello’s lawyers also sent a separate letter directly to Akpoti-Uduaghan, demanding a public apology and a retraction of her statements, insisting the apology be published in two national newspapers.

“That you cease and desist from making any further defamatory statements concerning him, whether directly or by innuendo, and whether published in print, electronic, or social media platforms.

“That you comply in terms of the foregoing within fourteen days of the service of this letter on you.

“Take notice that failure, refusal, or neglect to comply with the above demands within the period of 14 days from the date this letter is served on you, our client, will set the necessary machinery in motion to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against you without further notice,” the letter reds.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, also wrote to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, asking for a thorough investigation into allegations made against him by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.