The government filed defamation charges against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan after she accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her. In April, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former state governor Yahaya Bell wanted to "eliminate" her. After learning of the charges against her, Akpoti-Uduaghan told the BBC: "I'm actually shocked. A spokesperson for the senate president said they had "evidence beyond reasonable doubt" that she had been served the court papers. However, Akpoti-Uduaghan and her supporters argued that the committee was targeting her because of the allegations she had made against the senate president.