Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Indicted Over Murder Allegation Against Godswill Akpabio

Akpoti-Uduaghan Indicted Over Allegations Linking Akpabio to Umoren Murder.

A police investigation report has indicted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over allegations that she made false claims linking Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the 2021 murder of Iniobong Umoren. The report concluded that the allegations were baseless and unsupported by any evidence.

 

The investigation followed a formal petition submitted in April 2025 by Sandra Duru, President of the Unique Family Foundation, to the Inspector-General of Police. Duru alleged that Akpoti-Uduaghan contacted her on March 27, 2025, and claimed that Akpabio and his wife, Unoma, were responsible for the killing of Umoren and the alleged harvesting of her organs.

 

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Ejes Gist News reports that the police investigation report, dated February 3, 2026, was signed by Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede of the Police Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The document was officially addressed to the petitioner and detailed findings from months of forensic and criminal investigations.

Police Investigation Findings

According to the report by Premium Times, Akpoti-Uduaghan was invited by investigators and provided a cautionary statement on April 28, 2025. In the statement, she denied making the allegations attributed to her.

Police investigators also invited a key witness, Ina Okopi Agu, who allegedly provided Duru’s phone number to the senator. Agu reportedly confirmed the circumstances that led to the telephone conversation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the petitioner.

The police further disclosed that forensic analysis was conducted on an audio recording presented as evidence. The analysis confirmed that the voice in the recording was human and consistent with normal speech patterns.

Review of Umoren Murder Case

As part of the investigation, detectives were deployed to Akwa Ibom State to review the circumstances surrounding the murder of Iniobong Umoren. Investigators examined the original post-mortem report, trial records, and other official documents connected to the case.

The police report stated that the autopsy conducted on Umoren clearly established that no organ was removed or tampered with. Family members of the deceased were also interviewed and confirmed that the body was intact and uncompromised.

Investigators reviewed certified true copies of court records relating to the trial of Uduak Frank Akpan, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2021 for the murder of Umoren. The records showed no evidence supporting claims of organ harvesting.

The report concluded that the allegation allegedly communicated by Akpoti-Uduaghan to Duru was “false and without any iota of truth whatsoever.” It further stated that Akpabio and his wife had “absolutely nothing to do” with the murder or any alleged organ harvesting.

Political Background

The controversy emerged amid longstanding political disagreements between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. In February 2025, the senator representing Kogi Central publicly accused the Senate leadership under Akpabio of marginalisation and unfair treatment.

Akpabio denied the claims. The conflict escalated, leading to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension from the Senate for six months. She later accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, an allegation he also denied.

The disagreements generated intense public exchanges in the media and on social platforms, deepening political tensions between both lawmakers.

Legal Actions

Following the petition by Duru and the outcome of the police investigation, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed criminal defamation charges against Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on March 29, 2025.

The three-count charge was brought under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code applicable in the Federal Capital Territory. Court documents indicated that the charges stemmed directly from the allegations made against the Senate president.

Police authorities stated that the case did not proceed to full trial after Akpabio opted to discontinue the prosecution. The Attorney-General subsequently applied for withdrawal of the charges in line with constitutional provisions.

Police Commend Petitioner

In the concluding part of the report, the police commended Sandra Duru for reporting the allegation and cooperating with investigators. Authorities described her actions as patriotic and helpful in clarifying public controversy surrounding the matter.

The police noted that the investigation helped establish the truth of the Umoren murder case and corrected misinformation circulating in the public domain.

Efforts by our reporter to reach Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to her known telephone line did not connect.