Kogi, Nigeria – Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has strongly denied allegations made by Sandra Duru, a UK-based Nigerian activist, who accused the lawmaker of attempting to fund a smear campaign against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
During a Facebook livestream on May 1, 2025, Duru, also known as Professor Mgbeke, claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan sought her support in a media campaign aimed at discrediting Akpabio, allegedly offering large sums of money as inducement. Duru played audio clips she claimed were recorded conversations with Akpoti-Uduaghan, asserting that the intent was to weaken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu‘s administration by undermining one of his key allies.
In a statement released on Friday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed Duru’s allegations as false and politically motivated. She stated, “I have carefully watched a livestream done by Sandra C. Duru on Facebook, on May 1, 2025. The content of the livestream, including the voice attributed to me, is entirely untrue and has been manipulated to serve Sandra Duru’s ulterior motive of executing Senator Godswill Akpabio’s script.”
Furthermore, she raised doubts about the authenticity of the recordings, suggesting that Duru had rebranded herself for dubious reasons. “To the best of my knowledge, those words are false and did not arise from any legitimate interaction involving me,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated.
The Senator, who was suspended from the Senate in March 2025 for what she claims is retaliation after she accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, vowed to provide a more detailed response later. These developments have intensified public scrutiny over the power dynamics within Nigeria’s National Assembly.
Duru’s livestream, which lasted over an hour, included further accusations against Akpoti-Uduaghan, who allegedly attempted to induce her with N200 million to falsely accuse Akpabio of serious crimes, including organ harvesting. Duru exclaimed, “You are a pathological liar. You have disgraced us, Nigerians,” and suggested that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s actions constituted an attack on public integrity.
In her defense, Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated her commitment to transparency and accountability, asserting that the allegations against her lack foundation. She described the remarks reportedly made by her about Nigerian citizens as “crazy falsehoods” that were never uttered by her.
The fierce exchange between the senator and Duru has fueled ongoing dialogues about gender, power, and ethics in the political landscape of Nigeria. As both parties prepare for further engagements, the outcome remains uncertain.
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