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Defamation: Court finds Sen. Natasha Akpoti liable, awards ₦1bn to Yahaya Bello
A High Court sitting in Lokoja has awarded N1 billion in damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim and dated April 23, held that the claimant had proven his case based on the preponderance of evidence.
The court ruled that comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a November 4, 2022 interview on The Morning Show on Arise Television were defamatory to Bello’s character and reputation.
According to the court, the senator’s description of Bello as a “murderer,” “killer,” and “perpetrator of evil acts” was unjustified.
“The said interview… is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation,” the court held.
In addition to the monetary award, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents, or associates from making further defamatory statements against Bello on any media platform.
The suit, marked HCL/16/2023, had earlier faced jurisdictional challenges from the defence, which argued that the case constituted an abuse of court process. However, the court dismissed the objection and proceeded with the trial.
An appeal filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan at the Court of Appeal was also dismissed for lacking merit, with the appellate court affirming the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court to hear the case.
The ruling brings to a close a high-profile legal battle between the two political figures.
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