By Sunday Ani
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused the Nigeria Police Force of deliberately stalling investigations into multiple petitions she filed against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, while hastily pursuing a counter-petition filed against her by Akpabio.
The allegation was contained in a formal letter written on her behalf by her legal counsel, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa, SAN, to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, dated May 19, 2025. The letter detailed what her lawyers described as a disturbing pattern of preferential treatment and discriminatory action by the police in favour of Akpabio.
“Our client submitted numerous petitions to the Nigeria Police against Senator Akpabio,” the letter stated, adding that the complaints were clearly stated and had been submitted since March and April 2025.
Despite repeated follow-ups, the senator’s legal team lamented that, “no significant efforts have been made to impartially investigate the said petitions.”
The three referenced petitions included a March 25 report on threats to her personal security; a March 31 petition over the unlawful withdrawal of her police security detail; and an April 4 petition alleging a conspiracy by Akpabio and Bello to assassinate her. All were acknowledged as received by the police between March 26 and April 5.
According to West-Idahosa, the police had failed to interview available witnesses or take necessary steps to advance investigations. He suggested that the political stature of the individuals involved might have influenced the lack of progress.
“It is obvious that this unwillingness to thoroughly and impartially investigate the petitions may be due to the high political office occupied by Senator Akpabio.
“The same situation is applicable to our client’s petition against Bello, to whom constitutional immunity no longer applies.” the letter read.
The letter also contrasted the treatment with the ‘swift’ handling of a petition filed by Akpabio against Akpoti-Uduaghan on April 3, accusing her of false accusations, criminal defamation and incitement. The senator was invited and made a statement under caution, during which she reaffirmed her earlier petitions and offered witnesses. However, her legal team claimed the petitions and supporting materials were not included in the case file, even as they were informed that the police had concluded investigations into Akpabio’s petition.
“Our client is concerned that investigations into her petitions have been severally and unjustly stalled in what appears to be a discriminatory executive action contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria,” West-Idahosa noted.
The senator is now calling on the Attorney General to invoke Section 105(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to request the relevant case files from the Nigeria Police. Her legal team is urging a review to ensure justice is served and that the principles of fairness and rule of law are upheld.
Attached to the letter are copies of the petitions and the senator’s police statement, which her lawyers said substantiated her claims.