Latest news with #Akpabio
Saudi Gazette
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
LAGOS — The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced a live interview broadcast by Nigeria's Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me".The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's has not responded publicly to the charges against her and no date has been set for her to appear in case marks the latest twist in a row that has engrossed Nigeria, raising questions about gender equality in the socially conservative is one of just four women out of 109 accusing Akabio of sexual harassment in February, she was suspended from the Senate for six months without Senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for her "unruly and disruptive" behavior while the Senate was debating her Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters argued that the committee was targeting her because of the allegations she had made against the senate March, she told the BBC she felt the Senate "operates like a cult". She also said that because her security detail had been removed, she feared for the safety of her two-year-old child. — BBC
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced a live interview broadcast by Nigeria's Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me". The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's reputations. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her and no date has been set for her to appear in court. The case marks the latest twist in a row that has engrossed Nigeria, raising questions about gender equality in the socially conservative nation. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of just four women out of 109 senators. After accusing Akabio of sexual harassment in February, she was suspended from the Senate for six months without pay. The Senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for her "unruly and disruptive" behaviour while the Senate was debating her allegations. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters argued that the committee was targeting her because of the allegations she had made against the senate president. In March, she told the BBC she felt the Senate "operates like a cult". She also said that because her security detail had been removed, she feared for the safety of her two-year-old child. Additional reporting by Nkechi Ogbonna in Lagos 'Nigerian Senate is run like a cult', suspended MP tells BBC How some Nigerian women are being cut out of their parents' inheritance Nigeria's fierce political rivals share joke at pope's inaugural mass Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation. Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied. The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello. In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced an interview shown by Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV last month. In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me". The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's reputations. Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her. In March, after accusing Akabio of sexual harassment, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate for six months without pay. The senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for "unruly and disruptive" behaviour during a debate in the senate, but her supporters argue that it was a result of her allegations against Akabio. 'Nigerian Senate is run like a cult', suspended MP tells BBC How some Nigerian women are being cut out of their parents' inheritance Nigeria's fierce political rivals share joke at pope's inaugural mass Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
AFP
15-04-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Posts falsely claim ICC issued arrest warrant for Nigeria's senate president
'Breaking: ICC allegedly issues international arrest warrant for Nigerian senate president over sexual harassment allegations,' reads the heading of a post shared on Facebook. The post claims the ICC sent a letter to inform the Nigerian government of its decision and ordered that Akpabio be arrested in any country he visits. Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on April 11, 2025 A screenshot in the post shows an internet search for the words 'Akpabio and his girlfriend' and includes pictures of the senate president and his accuser, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The claim has also appeared in Facebook posts written in Hausa, one of the major languages spoken in northern Nigeria. Sexual harassment allegations In an interview with local broadcaster Arise TV on February 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of making unwanted advances towards her (archived here). Akpoti-Uduaghan said Akpabio – who denies the accusations – repeatedly blocked a motion she tried to advance in the Senate and then allegedly asked her for sexual favours to let it go through. On March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a petition asking the Senate to investigate Akpabio. The petition was rejected on procedural grounds on the same day. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended the next day for six months – a move ostensibly justified by an earlier argument over a change in her seating arrangement in the Senate chambers. 'Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of the allegation of sexual harassment or assault,' a letter from the Senate's majority leader said. Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued Akpabio for alleged defamation (archived here). In return, Akpabio's wife Ekaette Akpabio filed multiple lawsuits against Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged defamation, saying her comments caused her family emotional and psychological distress (archived here). However, claims that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Nigeria's senate president are false. ICC's procedures Akpabio is a high-ranking politician who has been a minister for four years and governor of Bayelsa state in Nigeria's south-south for eight years (archived here). News of an arrest warrant for him would have been widely published by local media. Keyword searches established there have been no credible reports to support the claim. The ICC's spokesman, Fadi El Abdallah, told AFP Fact Check that the claim was baseless. 'These claims are false,' he said in an email to AFP Fact Check. The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, which allows it to prosecute four main crimes (archived here). These include genocide, war crimes, crime of aggression (when a state attacks the sovereignty of another) and crimes against humanity including murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement – particularly of women and children – sexual slavery, torture, apartheid and deportation. The list does not include sexual harassment. The ICC's legal process before issuing a warrant of arrest for an individual includes investigating whether there is sufficient evidence of the crime, if it falls under its jurisdiction and whether there are genuine national proceedings. When this is established, it can issue a warrant of arrest or summon the suspect. A list of people summoned or whose arrest warrants have been issued is published on the ICC's website. Akpabio's name is not among them (archived here). Those declared wanted by the ICC include former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and his associate Ahmed Haroun. Both are to be prosecuted for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Neda Imaseun, head of the Senate Ethics Committee, said on March 25, 2025, that the matter of Akpoti-Uduaghan's accusation is closed, especially as both parties were litigating in court (archived here). UN figures place Nigeria in 179th place worldwide for women's representation in national legislatures (archived here). Women hold just 17 of 360 seats in the House of Representatives. After Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension, the Senate is down to three women out of 109 seats.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Posts falsely claim ICC issued arrest warrant for Nigeria's senate president
'Breaking: ICC allegedly issues international arrest warrant for Nigerian senate president over sexual harassment allegations,' reads the heading of a post shared on Facebook. The post claims the ICC sent a letter to inform the Nigerian government of its decision and ordered that Akpabio be arrested in any country he visits. A screenshot in the post shows an internet search for the words 'Akpabio and his girlfriend' and includes pictures of the senate president and his accuser, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The claim has also appeared in Facebook posts written in Hausa, one of the major languages spoken in northern Nigeria. In an interview with local broadcaster Arise TV on February 28, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Akpabio of making unwanted advances towards her (archived here). Akpoti-Uduaghan said Akpabio – who denies the accusations – repeatedly blocked a motion she tried to advance in the Senate and then allegedly asked her for sexual favours to let it go through. On March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted a petition asking the Senate to investigate Akpabio. The petition was rejected on procedural grounds on the same day. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended the next day for six months – a move ostensibly justified by an earlier argument over a change in her seating arrangement in the Senate chambers. 'Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of the allegation of sexual harassment or assault,' a letter from the Senate's majority leader said. Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued Akpabio for alleged defamation (archived here). In return, Akpabio's wife Ekaette Akpabio filed multiple lawsuits against Akpoti-Uduaghan for alleged defamation, saying her comments caused her family emotional and psychological distress (archived here). However, claims that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Nigeria's senate president are false. Akpabio is a high-ranking politician who has been a minister for four years and governor of Bayelsa state in Nigeria's south-south for eight years (archived here). News of an arrest warrant for him would have been widely published by local media. Keyword searches established there have been no credible reports to support the claim. The ICC's spokesman, Fadi El Abdallah, told AFP Fact Check that the claim was baseless. 'These claims are false,' he said in an email to AFP Fact Check. The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, which allows it to prosecute four main crimes (archived here). These include genocide, war crimes, crime of aggression (when a state attacks the sovereignty of another) and crimes against humanity including murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement – particularly of women and children – sexual slavery, torture, apartheid and deportation. The list does not include sexual harassment. The ICC's legal process before issuing a warrant of arrest for an individual includes investigating whether there is sufficient evidence of the crime, if it falls under its jurisdiction and whether there are genuine national proceedings. When this is established, it can issue a warrant of arrest or summon the suspect. A list of people summoned or whose arrest warrants have been issued is published on the ICC's website. Akpabio's name is not among them (archived here). Those declared wanted by the ICC include former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir and his associate Ahmed Haroun. Both are to be prosecuted for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Neda Imaseun, head of the Senate Ethics Committee, said on March 25, 2025, that the matter of Akpoti-Uduaghan's accusation is closed, especially as both parties were litigating in court (archived here). UN figures place Nigeria in 179th place worldwide for women's representation in national legislatures (archived here). Women hold just 17 of 360 seats in the House of Representatives. After Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension, the Senate is down to three women out of 109 seats.
