But Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking through her legal counsel Victor Giwa, said her comments were not made for political leverage but out of genuine fear for her safety.

The suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has strongly responded to a formal petition filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which she is accused of criminal defamation and incitement over allegations of an assassination plot.

But Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, speaking through her legal counsel Victor Giwa, said her comments were not made for political leverage but out of genuine fear for her safety.

“She has received the petition and has responded,” Giwa said. “What happened when she made that statement was her crying out to the general public to understand what she is exposed to.”

Giwa also criticised what he called a deliberate act of endangerment by Senate leadership, alleging that Natasha’s security details were withdrawn immediately after her suspension.

“You are aware that the Senate President ordered the withdrawal of her security,” Giwa noted.

“If somebody has committed gross misconduct, what has that got to do with the withdrawal of her security? She is a politically exposed person. You stopped her from entering the Senate, fine. But she has a life outside the complex. She is entitled to protection.”

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate for six months under controversial circumstances earlier this year.

Ekwutosblog  on Thursday reported that Senate President Godswill Akpabio had formally petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking an investigation into an alleged assassination plot made against him by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the petition dated April 3, 2025, Akpabio denied the serious accusation and called for the prosecution of Akpoti-Uduaghan for criminal defamation.

The petition, which was also copied to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), comes after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public outburst on April 1, 2025.

During a speech in Kogi State, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of instructing former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to assassinate her in Kogi State, claiming that the act was intended to make it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.

Akpabio categorically denied the accusation, calling it a “heinous lie” and a “reckless and deliberate attempt” to tarnish his reputation.

In his petition, the Senate President labelled the allegation as politically motivated, accusing Akpoti-Uduaghan of attempting to incite political unrest and damage his public image.

He stressed that the allegation was made without any supporting evidence.

The Senate President also highlighted the severe impact of the false allegation, especially given its widespread coverage across media platforms, including radio, television, and social media. He urged law enforcement agencies to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

He said, “I write to formally bring to your attention and seek immediate investigation and prosecution of a criminally defamatory and malicious statement made against me by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a suspended member of the Nigerian Senate on the 1st of April, 2025 and which was widely publicised on radio stations, televisions and newspapers, including the social media.

“In the public outburst at Kogi State while addressing her audience, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely alleged that I instructed the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to “assassinate her in Kogi State instead of Abuja” with the intent of making it appear that her constituents were responsible for her death.

“This statement is not only a heinous lie but a reckless and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation, endanger my life and security, and incite political unrest.

“I categorically state that this allegation is entirely false, unfounded, and politically motivated. It is a calculated act of blackmail and character assassination, designed to portray me as a political villain, and the statement was made without any shred of truth or supporting evidence.”

He further added that the statement was intended to manipulate public sentiment and malign his person and office.

“Her motive was clear, which was to incite the public, manipulate sentiments, and malign my person and office in the eyes of the Nigerian people and the international community,” he said.

“The severity of this false allegation, and the fact that it has gained public traction, makes it necessary that law enforcement agencies treat it with the urgency it deserves.”

In the petition, Akpabio called for the “immediate investigation into the false and inciting allegation” and the prosecution of “Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan under the relevant provisions of the law for criminal defamation, incitement, false accusation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”.

The prison authorities of Imo State Correctional Centre have dispelled rumours of a jailbreak at the Correctional facilities alleged to have been caused by Funali Herdsmen on a mission to free their brothers.

A press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Centre, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, CSC, Goodluck Uboegbulam, informed that the alleged invasion by armed Fulani herdsmen as reported in the social media is entirely false and misleading.

Uboegbulam urged the public and security personnel to disregard the viral post, which he described as fake and unfounded.

“I wish to bring to our notice a disturbing fake news making the rounds on the internet about an attack on Owerri custodial centre. I want to assure everyone that the facility is calm and under control. All officers are on red alert, and there is no cause for alarm.”the release stated.

He hinted that the false report had claimed that over 50 armed herdsmen had stormed the Centre, freeing more than 70 inmates.

Our correspondent reported that there is calm within the facility when visited as normal security checks is still in place.

It was also gathered that there is heavy security surveillance, with an army armoured tank and personnel stationed at the facility’s entrance, as has been the case since the April, 1 , 2021 attack during the EndSARS protests.

The Correctional Service spokesperson used the medium to urge the public to disregard the report and avoid spreading unverified news.

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has banned media houses from playing Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest song.

The song, titled Tell Your Papa, is a criticism of this current administration. In it, Eedris directed Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, to speak to his father about the worsening state of the country.

In Tell Your Papa, Abdulkareem sings, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.”

“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.

“Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem,” he continues singing.

The National Broadcasting Commission has now released a circular to media houses preventing them from playing the song.