By Adesakin Adefemi
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has rejected a ₦1 billion defamation judgment entered against her by a Lokoja High Court in favor of former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello. She said the verdict will be challenged at the Court of Appeal.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice A.S. Ibrahim, in suit HCL/16/2023, found the senator liable for comments she made during a November 4, 2022 appearance on Arise Television. The court held that her description of Bello as a “murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi state” was defamatory and unjustified.
Justice Ibrahim ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay ₦1 billion in damages to Bello. The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the senator, her agents, or associates from making further defamatory remarks about the former governor on television or radio.
Reacting on Friday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said her televised comments were a direct response to “grievous accusations” of terrorism levelled against her by Bello. “I went on national television to debunk the allegations made against me. I was accused of terrorism, and I had every right to defend myself before the Nigerian public,” she stated.
The senator insisted that if anyone should be accused of terrorism, “it should be Yahaya Bello and not me.” She argued that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence she presented to justify her remarks.
“I reject this judgment in totality,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “We presented enough evidence before the court to justify our position, but it is clear that these were not properly evaluated.”
She cited the security situation in Kogi State during Bello’s tenure, alleging that numerous killings occurred, particularly in Kogi Central. “Many families have continued to cry daily over the loss of their loved ones. These are real issues that can not be ignored,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her statements were rooted in the experiences of her constituents and the need to speak truth to power. She stressed that her intention was to bring attention to the plight of affected communities rather than to malign the former governor.
“This matter does not end here. We will seek redress at the court of appeal to ensure that justice prevails,” the senator added. She confirmed that her legal team has begun the process of filing an appeal against the judgment and the accompanying injunction.
