Court Orders Natasha to Pay Bello N1bn for Defamation

A Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has ordered Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay former Governor Yahaya Bello N1 billion in damages after ruling in Bello’s favour in a defamation case.

The case arose from comments made by the senator during a television appearance in November 2022, where allegations against the former governor led to a legal battle that has lasted for years. In its decision, the court found that the statements harmed Bello’s reputation and ruled that the claims were not supported by the evidence before it.

Justice A. S. Ibrahim, who delivered judgment in the suit, also restrained the senator and those linked to her from making further defamatory statements against Bello through broadcast or other media channels.

Beyond the damages awarded, the ruling marked another chapter in the long-running political and legal dispute involving both figures, whose clashes have often drawn public attention in Kogi politics.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, rejected the judgment and has moved to challenge it at the Court of Appeal. Through her media team, she maintained that the court did not properly consider the evidence presented in her defence and insisted her statements were made in the public interest.

Her legal team has already begun the appeal process, setting the stage for the matter to move to a higher court. The case is now expected to continue through the appellate process, where the judgment will be contested.