Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accusing suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of defamation.

Bello is seeking her arrest and prosecution over comments she made at a recent political event, which he claims are false and inciting.

In the petition, signed by his lawyer N.A. Abubakar, Bello urged the police to summon Akpoti-Uduaghan to present evidence backing her allegations.

If she fails, he requested that she be charged for criminal defamation, incitement, and spreading harmful falsehoods.

According to Bello’s legal team, the senator’s statements—made during an April 1 rally in Okehi LGA—are not only baseless but dangerous. At the event, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed Bello was involved in a plot to recall her from the Senate and allegedly conspired to have her killed, citing a meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Bello’s lawyers argue that these remarks have severely damaged his reputation, portraying him as a violent political figure and stirring division within Kogi Central.

They further claim that her statements have been widely circulated online, intensifying the harm.

Citing Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act and provisions of the Penal Code, Bello’s legal team emphasized the criminal nature of the senator’s alleged actions.

They also described her as “unhinged,” accusing her of long-standing harassment and public falsehoods against their client.

In a separate letter from another legal representative, Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN, Bello demanded that Akpoti-Uduaghan retract her statements and issue a public apology in two national newspapers.

She has been given 14 days to comply or face both civil and criminal legal action.

Bello’s lawyers warned that failure to address such defamatory acts could encourage further misuse of political platforms and threaten democratic stability.