The Senator representing Kogi Central Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been ordered to pay the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello N1 billion as damages for defamation of character.
The verdict was the outcome of a defamation suit filed at a High Court in Lokoja presided over by Justice A. S. Ibrahim, by the former governor against Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Delivering judgement in suit No. HCL/16/2023, Justice Ibrahim held that the claimant successfully proved his case on the balance of probabilities.
A Certified True Copy of the judgement dated April 23, 2026, was obtained on Friday.
In it, the court held that on the strength of evidence presented and based on the balance of probabilities, the key issues raised for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.
According to the judge, “The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV programme of ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation.
“The said interview of 4/11/2022 in which the defendant described the claimant as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State was without justification.”
In addition to the monetary damages, the court issued “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, restraining them from making further defamatory statements against the claimant across broadcast platforms.
“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) only (is) awarded as damages against the Defendant and in favour of the Claimant,” the court ruled.
Earlier in the proceedings, counsel to the defendant, Johnson J. Usman, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, had questioned the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the suit constituted an abuse of court process.
However, counsel to the ex-governor, Friday Ekpa, argued that none of the related matters before the FCT High Court involved the person of Yahaya Bello.
Following the High Court’s decision affirming its jurisdiction, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the ruling at the appellate court.
The Court of Appeal, in case number “CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024”, dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and upheld the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court to hear the matter.
