Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected a ₦1 billion damages award issued against her in a defamation case filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, and confirmed plans to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim of the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja, found that statements made by the senator during a November 4, 2022 appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television were defamatory. The court ruled that the remarks damaged Bello’s reputation and were not supported by sufficient evidence.
In suit number HCL/16/2023, the court awarded ₦1 billion in general damages to Bello and issued a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan, her associates, and representatives from making further defamatory statements against the former governor across all media platforms.
Justice Ibrahim held that the senator’s comments, which described Bello in severe terms, including allegations of violent conduct, were unjustified and injurious to his character.
Reacting to the ruling in a statement released by her media office in Abuja, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the judgment, arguing that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence she presented.
“I reject this judgment in its entirety,” she said. “We presented substantial and credible evidence before the court, which, in our view, clearly justified our position. Unfortunately, these were not given due consideration.”
The senator maintained that her statements during the television interview were made in response to prior accusations and were rooted in public interest, not malice. She further argued that her remarks reflected concerns about accountability and the experiences of people in Kogi State.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also insisted that her comments were made in good faith based on information available at the time, adding that she remains committed to pursuing justice through legal channels.
“We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served,” she said.
