Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Ms Sandra Duru (aka Professor Mgbeke) of alleged defamation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on a six-month suspension from the Senate, made the claim in a petition she addressed to the Inspector General of Police.
“Professor Mgbeke” recently claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan told her that her sexual harassment allegation against Akpabio were fabricated and without evidence.
She also claimed that the suspended Kogi Central senator referred to Nigerian as G and H (Gullible and Hungry) and that her fight against Akpabio was meant to get him out of the way as Senate President to allow a sinister plot to “remove the Yoruba government” from power.
The Kogi Central senator has since denied the claims, saying they were orchestrated to divert attention from her sexual harassment allegations against Akpabio.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also accused Duru of conspiring with Akpabio to tarnish her image and endanger her life.
The letter, dated May 15, 2025, was submitted to the Police Headquarters by her solicitors, West-Idahosa (SAN) & Co. Chambers, Abuia, and signed by Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN).
The letter 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.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the police to probe the allegations deeply by focusing on individuals involved in the planning, funding, and execution.
“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.
She also requested for security measures for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and key witnesses to ensure their safety.
“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.
