Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Challenges ₦1bn Defamation Ruling, Vows Appeal

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dismissed a ₦1 billion defamation judgment against her and announced plans to appeal the ruling delivered by the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja in favour of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.

The court had found her comments during a November 4, 2022 interview on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” defamatory and ordered her to pay ₦1 billion in damages.

Justice A. S. Ibrahim, in suit number HCL/16/2023, ruled that the senator’s statements were damaging to Bello’s character and not substantiated by evidence.

“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 held. “The said interview… 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.”

The court further imposed a perpetual injunction preventing Akpoti-Uduaghan and her associates from repeating similar statements in any media outlet and awarded ₦1 billion in damages to Bello.

In response, the senator said in a statement released by her Media Office in Abuja on Saturday: “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 argued that her remarks were made in reaction to earlier claims and were intended to serve public interest.

“If there is anybody to be accused of terrorism, it should be Yahaya Bello and not me,” she stated.

“My comments were rooted in the experiences of our people and the need to speak truth to power.”

She further maintained that her statements were not malicious.

“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 said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan added that she strongly disagrees with the court’s findings and will pursue legal redress.

“I firmly believe that the truth was not adequately reflected in the court’s findings. 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.

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