Natasha urges IG to dismiss Akpabio’s petition over assassination claim
Abdullateef Fowewe
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, has requested the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reject the petition made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in which he accuses her of criminal defamation and incitement.
Instead, she has urged the IG to investigate Akpabio for allegedly threatening her life.
Akpabio’s letter to Egbetokun claimed that the senator falsely accused him of planning her assassination, a statement he called “malicious lies” with the intention of harming his reputation and stirring up trouble.
Natasha in a statement on Saturday by her lawyer Victor Giwa, accused the Senate President of trying to avoid scrutiny of his alleged involvement in a scheme to cause her harm by making counter-allegations of instigating the public.
She insisted that Akpabio’s petition was a deliberate ploy to distract law enforcement from more pressing allegations against him.
The statement said, “We remain counsel for Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, hereafter known as our client. Our attention has been drawn to the news-making round that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a petition against our client, distinguished Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, alleging Incitement of the public against his person.
“It is our client’s position that the Senate President should submit himself for a full investigation to security agents before any allegation of incitement against him.
“The Senate President is a ‘principal suspect’ in the case of a threat to the life of the distinguished Senator Natasha, whose securities have been withdrawn illegally at the instruction of the Senate president.”
She said that not until the investigation into the allegations against the Senate President had been completed and proven to be false, could the Akpabio’s petition be entertained.
“We, therefore, call on the Senate President to submit himself to full investigation rather than divert the attention of the security agents through a bubble petition.
“It is only when the investigation has been concluded, and the allegation has been shown to be false, that the issue of incitement and false allegation against Senator Natasha can be entertained.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to discontinue the Senate president’s Petition as being diversionary and prejudicing of investigation,” it added.
