Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Friday refuted allegations made by US-based activist Dr. Sandra Duru, who claimed there was a plot to frame Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement through her media aide, Israel Arogbonlo, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the audio recordings shared by Duru during a Facebook live broadcast as “manipulated.”
Allegations by Sandra Duru
During a Facebook livestream lasting over an hour, Duru—popularly known as Prof. Mgbeke—accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of offering her ₦200 million to fabricate damaging claims against Akpabio. She also alleged that the senator tried to recruit prominent Nigerians and rights groups to discredit the Senate President.
“She (Natasha) told me the sexual harassment claims against Akpabio were not working and wanted to try a new strategy,” Duru claimed. “She asked me to help draft petitions to the UK Parliament and the UN, offered me ₦200 million, and later even dollars.”
Duru further alleged that Natasha planned to falsely accuse Akpabio of murder and organ harvesting to force him to resign. “She said he killed a girl named Umoren and harvested her kidney for his wife,” Duru said. “She wanted the organ harvesting allegation to overshadow the sexual harassment claims.”
According to Duru, she handed over their WhatsApp messages, phone records, and audio clips to U.S. authorities and the Nigeria Police for forensic investigation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan Responds
In her rebuttal, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the claims as false and politically motivated.
“I watched Sandra Duru’s Facebook stream on May 1. The voice recordings attributed to me are grossly manipulated. This is a smear campaign orchestrated by Senator Akpabio,” she said.
She also denied using derogatory language against prominent Nigerians such as Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and FIDA members, calling the accusations “crazy falsehoods.”
Reactions
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education mentioned in the broadcast, dismissed the claims as “nonsense” and refused to comment further.
FIDA Nigeria’s Country Vice-President, Eliana Martins, also refuted Duru’s claims, clarifying that the group never accepted money from Akpoti-Uduaghan and was only advocating for due process in the Senate sexual harassment case.
“We are not taking sides. We’re only calling for a transparent process that hears both parties,” Martins said.
Meanwhile, Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, condemned the allegations as an ethnic plot to destabilize the Tinubu administration. The group warned against tribal blackmail and political sabotage disguised as activism.
Background
Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the Senate on March 6, 2025, following a dispute over seating arrangements. Tensions escalated after she accused Akpabio of retaliating because she rejected his sexual advances—a claim the Senate President has denied.
She alleged the harassment began in 2023 during a visit to Akpabio’s residence with her husband and later submitted a petition to the Senate.
