Akpabio Alleges Smear Campaign, Threatens Legal Action Against Natasha, Abbo

• Says lawmakers’ claims are ‘false and malicious’

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has described as ‘false and malicious’ claims by suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that he engaged immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to kill her

Similarly, the Senate President also denied having anything to do with the travails of former lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Abbo, as claimed

Consequently, he is threatening to seek legal redress, formal letters to demand immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm from both Senator Natasha and Senator Abbo.

The legal threats were contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by Senator Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh.

Embattled Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made the allegation while addressing her supporters on Wednesday in Kogi, claiming that the Senate President sought the help of Bello to ‘assassinate her in Kogi State rather than in Abuja’.

With the Kogi State government having already debunked the allegation, Senator Akpabio said there was no iota of truth in the allegation, describing it as a deliberate smear campaign to make him look like a bad leader in the eye of the public.

According to the Senate President; “This outrageous accusation is not only false but a complete fabrication and deeply irresponsible and dangerous attempt to provoke public unrest, attract media attention, and discredit the person and office of the President of the Senate for ulterior motives.

“It is important to remind the public that this same individual had previously made an unsubstantiated accusation of sexual harassment against me, a claim she seems to have abandoned without explanation.

“Having failed to gain traction with that narrative, she has now escalated her campaign of misinformation to a defamatory dimension.

“It is a matter of public record that she has previously made assassination allegations against Yaya Bello and others in 2019 and 2023, along with multiple unsubstantiated claims of sexual harassment against other dignitaries.

“Her recurring persecution narrative and evident lying complex should not be weaponised to malign individuals or destroy hard-earned reputations.”

Also reacting to claims by former lawmaker representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Abbo, who was sacked by a Court of Appeal on October 16, 2023, the Senate President denied having any hand in his removal from the National Assembly (NASS).

Senator Abbo, who featured on a live programme on Arise Television on Wednesday, had blamed Senator Akpabio for his predicament while equally accusing him of running the Red Chamber like an emperor.

The Senate President said both claims, coming almost at the same time, must have been a deliberate and coordinated campaign of calumny against his personality.

Therefore, he sought apologies and retractions from both individuals to avoid seeking legal redress.

The Senate President said; “Nigerians will recall that Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.

“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North. The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign.

“These individuals, backed by undisclosed interests, appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.”

The statement further added; “Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo”.