Senator Natasha Denies Allegations Made by Sandra Duru
The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan , has refuted allegations made against her by UK-based Nigerian businesswoman Sandra Duru , also known as Prof. Mgbeke. Duru’s claims, aired during a Facebook livestream on Thursday evening, accused Senator Natasha of orchestrating a media campaign to discredit Senate President Godswill Akpabio and weaken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration .
In the livestream, Duru alleged that Senator Natasha falsely accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and attempted to recruit her into a smear campaign by offering large sums of money in both naira and US dollars. Duru also claimed that the ultimate goal was to oust Akpabio, a key ally of President Tinubu, from his position as Senate President.
To substantiate her claims, Duru played several audio recordings, which she claimed were phone conversations between herself and Senator Natasha.
Senator Natasha’s Response: “Entirely Untrue”
Responding to the allegations in a statement on Friday, Senator Natasha dismissed them as false, accusing Duru of acting on behalf of Senate President Akpabio.
“I have carefully watched a livestream done by one 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,” Natasha said.
She added, “To the best of my knowledge, those words are false and did not arise from any legitimate interaction involving me. I also recently discovered that the individual now identifying as Sandra Duru previously operated under the name Prof. Mgbeke on Facebook.”
Senator Natasha stated that she would respond more fully to the “unfounded allegations” in due course.
Background: Sexual Harassment Allegations and Suspension
The controversy surrounding Senator Natasha began in February 2025 when she accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment during a televised interview. She claimed that Akpabio made inappropriate comments and suggested her legislative proposal would only be considered if she “took care” of him. She also alleged that he invited her to spend private time with him.
Akpabio denied the allegations, stating that he had never harassed any woman, and urged Nigerians to let the courts handle the matter.
On March 6, 2025 , the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months without pay, citing “unruly and disruptive” conduct. Her harassment complaint was dismissed on procedural grounds, as she submitted it herself rather than through another senator, which violated Senate rules.
The suspension followed a dispute over a new seating arrangement in the chamber, which Senator Natasha believed was intended to humiliate her. She later claimed on national TV that her suspension was punishment for rejecting Akpabio’s alleged advances—a claim he denied.
The Senate stated that the suspension could be lifted if she issued a written apology. However, the situation sparked widespread protests under the slogan “We Are All Natasha,” with rallies held in cities including Lagos, Enugu, Edo, and Kaduna.
Taking the Fight Global
Calling the suspension a “witch-hunt,” Akpoti-Uduaghan argued that it was an attempt to silence her. She took her case to the international stage during a Women in Parliament event at the United Nations , where she described the Senate’s action as illegal and called for global support.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed a petition to recall her, stating that it “failed to meet constitutional standards.”
Previous Clashes Between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio
This was not the first time the two senators clashed. In July 2024 , Akpabio publicly reprimanded Natasha during a Senate session, saying, “We are not in a nightclub,” after she spoke without recognition. His comment drew heavy criticism as “sexist,” leading to a public apology from Akpabio.
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