Senate President Godswill Akpabio and U.S.-based Nigerian Dr Sandra Duru are the subjects of a new police petition by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan which accuse the duo of criminal conspiracy, defamation, cyberstalking, and a deliberate plot to endanger her life.
The allegations against Akpabio and Duru were contained in a damning petition submitted to the Inspector General of Police on May 15, 2025, by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal counsel, Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN).
The 71-page petition, seen by this publication, chronicles what it describes as a calculated and retaliatory campaign against the Kogi Central senator, who had earlier accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment in a televised interview on February 28, 2025. Rather than launching a formal investigation into the accusation, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan on March 6, a move widely seen as punitive.
Following her suspension, a woman identified as “Professor Mgbeke” emerged on Facebook with commentary seemingly in support of Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator later discovered that “Prof. Mgbeke” was in fact Dr. Sandra Duru, who allegedly turned from supporter to blackmailer after Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to pay her to “frame narratives” online. Duru then launched a viral campaign laced with accusations of treason and falsehoods, including claims that the senator was plotting to topple the “Yoruba government” and had insulted Nigerians.
The petition accuses Senator Akpabio of orchestrating and financing the campaign through Duru, who, during a live Facebook broadcast on May 1, 2025, exposed her call logs showing names like “Senator Akpabio,” “IGP Kayode,” “Oby Ndukwe,” and “CP Imo”—a development the petition says confirms direct ties to top security operatives.
Whistleblowers, including media personality Francess Olisa-Ogbonnaya and content creator Maazi Obinna, corroborated the claims. They admitted to being recruited by Duru, paid large sums, and given scripts filled with false narratives against the senator. One whistleblower revealed a N30 million budget was earmarked to “destroy Natasha on TV,” while another said 80% of what was broadcast had no basis in the actual audio recordings.
The petition also linked a violent attack on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Kogi residence in April 2025 to the unfolding crisis, describing it as a failed assassination attempt. No items were stolen, and the attackers allegedly believed the senator was present.
Among other charges, the petition cites criminal defamation, cyberstalking, conspiracy, attempted murder, and possible abuse of office. It calls for immediate investigation, protection for the senator and whistleblowers, and prosecution of all involved parties, including Sandra Duru and any government officials found to have participated in the smear plot.
While neither Akpabio nor Duru has publicly responded to the explosive claims by Natasha now before the police, the petition is already generating waves across Nigeria’s political landscape.
