A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has awarded N1 billion in damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The senator, however, rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
Her decision was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by her media aide, Mike Idoko.
The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim in suit number HCL/16/2023, arose from comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television on November 4, 2022.
During the programme, the senator made allegations against Bello, which later formed the basis of the legal dispute.
In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim held that the statements were defamatory and injurious to the claimant’s reputation, adding that they were not supported by the evidence presented before the court.
“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV programme ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation,” the judge said.
He further ruled that the senator’s description of Bello as a “murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State” was unjustified.
The court resolved all issues in favour of the claimant and granted a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan, her agents, and associates from making further defamatory statements against Bello across all media platforms.
In addition to the injunction, the court awarded N1 billion as general damages to the former governor.
Reacting to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the judgment, arguing that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented in her defence.
“I reject this judgment in its entirety. We presented substantial and credible evidence before the court, which, in our view, clearly justified our position. Unfortunately, these were not given due consideration,” she said.
She maintained that her statements were made in the public interest and not out of malice.
“My statements were based on information available at the time and were made in good faith, in the interest of accountability to the people of Kogi State,” she added.
The senator confirmed that her legal team has begun the process of filing an appeal.
“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 stated.
The ruling marks a new turn in the prolonged political and legal dispute between the two figures, as the case now heads to the appellate court for further adjudication.
