By Prosper Mene
Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of bias and favoritism in their handling of multiple petitions she filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The allegations, detailed in a letter by her legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sen. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, cites what the senator describes as deliberate stalling of investigations into her complaints while the police swiftly acted on a counter-petition against her.
According to the letter, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petitions include a March 25 report alleging threats to her life, a March 31 complaint regarding the unauthorized withdrawal of her police security detail, and an April 4 petition accusing Akpabio and Bello of conspiring to assassinate her. Despite her cooperation, West-Idahosa claims her original petitions and evidence were excluded from the case file concerning Akpabio’s counter-petition, which alleges defamation by the senator. The legal team was also recently informed that the police had concluded their investigation into Akpabio’s petition without addressing her claims.
“It is obvious that this unwillingness to thoroughly and impartially investigate the petitions may be due to the high political office occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio,” West-Idahosa stated, adding that Bello, no longer protected by gubernatorial immunity, should also be subject to a full criminal investigation. The senator described the police’s response as “discriminatory” and “preferential,” suggesting their actions were influenced by the political stature of the accused.
Both Akpabio and Bello have filed counter-petitions with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, accusing the senator of defamation and incitement.
Akpabio, in a petition dated April 3, 2025, called Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations “heinous lies” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and inciting unrest. Bello’s legal team similarly labeled her statements as “false, reckless, and inciting,” demanding her prosecution for criminal defamation. The senator, however, insists she has evidence to support her claims and has urged the police to investigate her petitions thoroughly rather than prioritizing those against her.
The ongoing feud has increased political tensions, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month Senate suspension, linked to a dispute over seating arrangements, adding fuel to her claims of political victimization. She has also raised concerns about an attack on her family home in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, which she attributes to Akpabio, Bello, and Ododo.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on the Inspector General to restore her security detail and conduct an impartial investigation into her allegations. The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond publicly to the senator’s accusations of bias.
