Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan rejects ₦1bn defamation ruling

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected a court ruling ordering her to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello in a defamation case, saying she will challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim of the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja, found that comments made by the senator during a November 2022 appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television were defamatory.

The court ruled that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s remarks in which she accused Bello of serious wrongdoing were not supported by sufficient evidence and had damaged his reputation. It awarded ₦1 billion in general damages and issued a perpetual injunction restraining her from making further defamatory statements against him across media platforms.

In a statement released by her media office, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she “rejects the judgment in its entirety”, arguing that the court failed to properly consider what she described as substantial and credible evidence presented in her defence.

She maintained that her comments were made in response to allegations against her and were intended to serve the public interest.

“My statements were based on information available at the time and made in good faith, in the interest of accountability to the people of Kogi State,” she said.

The senator added that she believes the ruling does not reflect the full facts of the case and confirmed that her legal team has begun the process of appealing the decision.

“This is not the end of the matter,” she said. “We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served.”