“I Found Out on the News” Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Speaks Out on Shock Government Lawsuit
In a political drama that is rattling Nigeria’s National Assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has revealed that she first learned about the federal government’s defamation lawsuit against her through the news media, not through official channels a move she described as “shocking” and “intimidating.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only four female senators out of 109, is at the center of a storm that cuts across gender politics, alleged abuse of power, and threats to personal safety. The Kogi-born senator is now facing formal charges after publicly accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of plotting to “eliminate” her an allegation both men vehemently deny.
“I had to read it on the news,” Akpoti-Uduaghan told the BBC. “I’m actually shocked… I have not been served court papers until now.”
Power vs. Principle?
The case marks the latest chapter in a spiraling feud that has put the senator at odds with the powerful elite. In April, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged during a live Channels TV interview that there were conversations between Akpabio and Bello about plans to kill her. She claims her statement was based on real fears for her safety fears she even reported to the police.
But rather than receive protection or an investigation into her claims, she now finds herself in court on the defendant’s bench.
“Do you understand the twist?” she asked. “I was the one who ran to the police… Now, I’m the one being prosecuted for defamation.”
The Attorney General’s office, however, sees things differently. In the charge sheet reviewed by the BBC, the government argues that her televised remarks could cause “public hatred or ridicule” of both Akpabio and Bello.
Silence, Not Justice?
Critics say the lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of silencing female voices in Nigeria’s male-dominated political landscape especially when they challenge authority or speak up about sexual misconduct.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment, a claim he has repeatedly denied. Not long after the accusation, she was suspended from the Senate for six months without pay. The Senate Ethics Committee cited her “unruly and disruptive” behavior during a debate, but many saw the move as retaliation.
“Sexual harassment has been normalized in society,” the senator said. “But here I am, speaking about it and that was my first offence. I was supposed to bear it as a woman.”
The Senate President’s office insists that the lawsuit is purely legal, not personal. His legal adviser said Akpabio had “no involvement whatsoever” in the decision to prosecute, and that the charges stemmed from a police investigation, not political vendetta.
“The claim that he is using state authority to target anyone is baseless, unsubstantiated, and defamatory,” the adviser added.
A Chilling Message to Women in Power?
The unfolding saga highlights the deep-rooted structural barriers that women in Nigerian politics face. With female representation in the Senate at a meager 3.7%, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case sends a chilling message: Speak up, and you may be silenced or sued.
The senator remains defiant. She says she stands by her claims and is ready to prove her truth in court. But for now, she waits no court date has been set, and the legal sword still hangs over her head.
As the nation watches this high-profile clash unfold, it raises an urgent question: In today’s Nigeria, is there space for women in power to speak truth to power and survive it?
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I learnt government was suing me on the news – Nigerian senator