The suspended Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has challenged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to submit himself to police investigation.
Natasha accused Akpabio of attempting to preempt investigations into his role in an alleged plot to assassinate her by raising counter-allegations of public incitement.
The Whistler had reported that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of an assassination attempt, an accusation that prompted Akpabio to file a petition to the Inspector General of Police calling for Natasha’s investigation.
However, Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a statement on Saturday by her lawyer, Victor Giwa, said Akpabio’s petition was a deliberate attempt to distract the police from more pressing allegations against him.
“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a ‘principal suspect’ in the case of a threat to the life of the distinguished Senator Natasha, whose security has been withdrawn illegally at the instruction of the Senate president,” the lawyer said.
Giwa further said that not until the investigation into the allegations against the Senate President had been completed and proven to be false could Akpabio’s petition be entertained.
“We, therefore, call on the Senate President to submit himself to a 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,” the lawyer said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to dismiss Akpabio’s petition accusing her of criminal defamation and incitement.
Rather, she urged the IGP to investigate Akpabio over allegations of threats to her life.
Akpabio, in his petition to the IGP, had stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely accused him of plotting her assassination.
The Senate President had accused the Kogi central senator of damaging his reputation and inciting public unrest against him.