Nigerian Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Faces Defamation Charges After Alleging Threats to Her Life

A Nigerian senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, said she found out on the news that the government was suing her. She told the BBC she was shocked.

The government is charging her with defamation. This happened after she said two top politicians planned to kill her.

In April, she claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello wanted to "eliminate" her. Both men said this is not true.

She also said in the past that Akpabio sexually harassed her. He has denied that too.

After hearing about the charges, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “I was shocked. I only saw it in the news. I have not been given any court papers.”

But Akpabio’s team said they do have proof that she got the court papers. They said she should come to court and prove her claims.

A legal adviser for Akpabio told the BBC that he had no part in starting the case. The police looked into the matter before charges were filed.

The charge sheet, seen by the BBC, mentions a TV interview from last month. In that interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan said Akpabio and Bello talked about plans to harm her.

The attorney general said these words could damage the men’s reputations.

Akpoti-Uduaghan says her claims are true. She said she even went to the police with her complaint.

She said, “I was the one who went to the police. I spoke out about the threat to my life. But now I’m the one being charged with defamation.”

She thinks the charges are meant to scare her and force her to stay quiet. She also believes it's because she spoke about the sexual harassment.

“Sexual harassment is common in our society,” she said. “But I chose to speak up. That was my first ‘crime’ – speaking as a woman.”

Akpabio’s legal adviser again denied the claim. He said the Senate president is not using his power to go after anyone unfairly.

This case has caught the attention of many in Nigeria. People are now asking questions about women’s rights in the country.

Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate.

After she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, the Senate suspended her for six months. She did not get paid during that time.

The Senate said she was suspended for bad behavior during a debate on her claims.

But Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters say the Senate punished her because she spoke out against Akpabio.

No court date has been announced yet.