A High Court in Lokoja has ruled in favour of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, awarding N1 billion in damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation case.
The decision, contained in a Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 23, followed the court’s conclusion that the claimant successfully proved his case on the balance of probabilities.
Delivering judgment in suit “HCL/16/2023,” Justice A. S. Ibrahim held that all issues presented for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.
“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 damages, the court issued “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, barring any further publication or broadcast of similar statements against the claimant.
“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.
The case was initiated by Bello, who accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of damaging his reputation through her public comments.
During proceedings, defence counsel Johnson J. Usman, SAN, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction and described the suit as an abuse of court process. However, Bello’s lawyer, Friday Ekpa, maintained that no related matter before the FCT High Court directly involved his client.
After affirming its jurisdiction, the Lokoja High Court proceeded with the case. Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged that decision at the appellate court, but in appeal number “CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024”, the Court of Appeal dismissed her case for lacking merit and upheld the lower court’s authority to hear the matter.
