Court Awards N1bn Damages Against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in Bello Defamation Case

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has ordered Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay N1 billion in damages to former governor Yahaya Bello over defamatory remarks.

Justice A. S. Ibrahim, who delivered the judgment, ruled in favour of Bello after finding that statements made by the senator during a televised interview were injurious to his reputation.

The suit stemmed from an appearance by Akpoti-Uduaghan on The Morning Show on Arise TV in November 2022, where she allegedly made remarks describing Bello in unflattering and damaging terms.

In his decision, the judge held that the claims made during the broadcast were not justified and amounted to defamation. He stated that the court was satisfied, based on the balance of probabilities, that the claimant had proved his case.

“The interview… is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation,” the court ruled, adding that the allegations portraying Bello as a violent figure were made without evidence.

Beyond the monetary award, the court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the senator, her associates, or representatives from making further defamatory statements against the former governor across any media platform.

The legal dispute had earlier faced jurisdictional challenges. Counsel to the defendant, Johnson Usman (SAN), argued that the case amounted to an abuse of court process, citing similar suits pending in Abuja courts.

However, Bello’s lawyer, Friday Ekpa, countered that those cases did not directly involve his client. The trial court upheld its jurisdiction, a decision later affirmed by the Court of Appeal in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024, which dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal.

The latest judgment, dated April 23, marks the culmination of the protracted legal battle, reinforcing the authority of the Kogi State High Court to adjudicate the matter.

Legal observers note that the ruling underscores the weight Nigerian courts attach to reputational damage, especially in cases involving public figures and widely broadcast statements.