Senator Natasha Indicted in Police Report Over Murder Claim Against Akpabio
A police investigation has indicted Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over claims linking Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the murder of Iniobong Umoren and an alleged organ harvesting plot.
The report stated that the allegation was made to a United States-based activist and later brought before the Nigeria Police Force for full investigation. Authorities said the claim was found to be untrue after months of forensic and field inquiries.
The document was dated February 3, 2026. It was signed by the Commissioner of Police at the Police Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Akin Fakorede.
It was sent to Sandra Duru, President of The Unique Family Foundation, who had earlier petitioned the Inspector-General of Police in April 2025.
According to the report, Ms Duru informed the police that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan contacted her on March 27, 2025. During the call, the senator allegedly claimed that Senator Akpabio and his wife, Unoma, were behind the killing of Ms Umoren. She further alleged that the victim’s organs were harvested to “treat” the Senate president’s wife.
Ms Duru reported the matter immediately and requested a formal investigation due to the seriousness of the allegation and its possible national impact.
The conflict between both lawmakers began earlier in February 2025. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the Senate leadership under Akpabio of discrimination and unfair treatment. The Senate president denied the claim.
She was later suspended from the Senate for six months. She also accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, which he publicly rejected. These exchanges later moved to the media and social platforms, escalating the political tension between both figures.
Investigators invited Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for questioning on April 28, 2025. She made a cautionary statement and denied making the allegation.
A key witness, Ina Okopi Agu, who allegedly provided Ms Duru’s phone number to the senator, was also questioned. Police said she confirmed how the call between both women came about.
The report said a forensic voice examination was carried out on the audio recording linked to the case. The analysis confirmed that the voice in the conversation was human and not artificially generated.
Detectives were also deployed to Akwa Ibom State to revisit the murder case of Iniobong Umoren. They reviewed the post-mortem report, court records, and statements from the victim’s family.
The report stated, “The post-mortem examination clearly showed that no organ of the deceased was missing or compromised”.
Family members of the late Umoren also told investigators that no part of her body was removed after her death.
Police further examined certified court records from the trial of Uduak Frank Akpan, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2021 for the murder of Ms Umoren.
After reviewing all findings, the police concluded that the allegation of organ harvesting passed to Ms Duru by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was “false and without any iota of truth whatsoever.”
The report added that Senator Akpabio and his wife “had absolutely nothing to do” with the murder or any alleged organ harvesting scheme.
Based on the petition and investigation outcome, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed criminal defamation charges against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Federal Capital Territory High Court on March 29, 2025.
The charges contained three counts under Sections 391 and 392 of the Penal Code applicable in the FCT.
However, the case did not go through to full prosecution. The report explained that Senator Akpabio later chose to discontinue the matter. This decision led the Attorney-General to withdraw the charges in line with constitutional powers.
The police praised Ms Duru for what it described as her “patriotism and courage” in reporting the allegation and supporting the investigation. Officers said her actions helped resolve public confusion that had surrounded the issue for several months.
