Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Ms. Sandra Duru, also known as Professor Mgbeke, of defamation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, made these allegations in a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police.
Recently, “Professor Mgbeke” claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan told her that her sexual harassment accusation against Akpabio was fabricated and lacked evidence.
She also alleged that the suspended senator referred to Nigerians as “G and H” (Gullible and Hungry) and suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s campaign against Akpabio was part of a scheme to remove the Yoruba-led government from power by displacing Akpabio as Senate President.
The Kogi Central senator has denied these accusations, asserting that they were deliberately fabricated to distract from her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
The petition, dated May 15, 2025, was submitted to the Police Headquarters through her legal representatives, West-Idahosa (SAN) & Co. Chambers, Abuja, and signed by Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN).
It reads, “On February 28, 2025, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan publicly accused Senator Akpabio of sexual harassment during a televised interview, citing instances where he allegedly demanded sexual favours in exchange for legislative support.
“Rather than allow a fair enquiry, the Senate (under Senator Akpabio’s leadership) struck out her petition on procedural grounds and, on March 6, 2025, suspended her for six months under the pretext of ‘unruly’ behaviour.
“This highly unusual suspension over a seating arrangement dispute was widely condemned as a punitive response to her allegations and an attempt to silence her voice.
“The backdrop of this case is, therefore, one of personal grievance: Senator Akpabio, feeling aggrieved and ‘traumatised’ by the public accusation (as he himself described) and seeing his reputation at stake, had a clear motive to retaliate and discredit Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in any way possible.
“Shortly after the sexual harassment claim and suspension, our client observed a sudden surge of defamatory propaganda against her on social media and in certain press outlets.
“Evidence now shows that this was no organic backlash but a coordinated smear campaign sponsored by Senator Akpabio as a form of revenge.
“A key figure in this campaign is one Dr. Sandra Chidinma Duru, a Texas-based Nigerian who styles herself as ‘Professor (Prof.) Mgbeke’ on Facebook.
“It is pertinent to highlight further evidence demonstrating the operational nexus between Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr. Sandra Duru. As inadvertently revealed during her live broadcast of May 1, 2025, Dr. Duru’s call log displayed multiple contacts, including ‘My Daddy Directline’, ‘IGP Kayode’, ‘Senator Akpabio’ (with at least two saved numbers), ‘Oby Ndukwe’ (the media aide to the Senate President, who later appeared on Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye to publicly condemn our client), and ‘CP Imo Aboki Danjuma’ as well as ‘Senator Ned Nwoko’.
“The presence of these names, particularly those occupying high-level positions within Nigeria’s security architecture, strongly suggests that Senator Akpabio and Dr. Duru were acting in concert, possibly with the support or knowledge of certain police officials.
“This revelation further strengthens our client’s position that the defamatory campaign and associated threats were not the isolated acts of a rogue individual but the product of a coordinated effort involving Senator Akpabio and his political and security network intended to discredit, harass, and endanger her.
“She called for questioning of Dr. Duru and other implicated individuals, including key witnesses and accomplices as well as a forensic examination of electronic evidence, including doctored audio recordings, call logs, and digital files.
“That the police thoroughly investigate the veracity of all statements made by ‘Prof. Mgbeke’ (now revealed to be Sandra Duru) during and after the May 1, 2025 broadcast, including all communications between her and known associates of Senator Akpabio.
“That statements and actions of third-party collaborators who publicly endorsed the defamatory broadcast be examined to determine their knowledge of and participation in the conspiracy.
“In conclusion, we maintain that the actions against our client amount to a criminal enterprise violating multiple laws.
“We respectfully urge your service to painstakingly investigate the contents of this Petition and ensure that justice is expeditiously dispensed to all who may be found wanting regardless of their status in the Nigerian society.”