“Arrest Natasha Now or She’ll Embolden Others to Spread Dangerous Falsehoods” — Yahaya Bello Petitions IGP Over Alleged Defamation

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for what he describes as defamatory and inciting remarks made against him. In a petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, Bello called on the police to invite the senator representing Kogi Central to provide credible evidence to support her claims, or face legal action.

The allegations stem from statements Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly made during a political rally on April 1, 2025, in Okehi Local Government Area. At the event, she was said to have accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of directing Bello to initiate and fund her recall. She also allegedly claimed that Akpabio instructed Bello to orchestrate her assassination outside Abuja, making it appear as a mob or local attack.

Bello, through his legal team, described the remarks as “false, reckless, and inciting,” and said they amount to criminal defamation, false accusation, and incitement to public disorder under Nigerian law. The petition noted that the comments portrayed Bello as a violent political figure and sought to incite political and ethnic tensions, particularly among the Ebiraland clans and the people of Kogi Central.

The petition further stated that such allegations have damaged Bello’s reputation and, if left unchallenged, could affect his political career and personal safety. Bello’s lawyers added that he had previously avoided legal confrontation with the senator out of a sense of responsibility while in office, but now seeks full legal redress following the end of his tenure.

In addition to the petition to the IGP, Bello’s legal team, led by R.O. Balogun, also sent a letter to Akpoti-Uduaghan demanding a formal apology and a retraction of her statements. They requested that the apology be published in two national newspapers and that she cease making any further defamatory remarks. The letter gave her 14 days to comply, warning that failure to do so would result in both civil and criminal proceedings.