The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has formally rejected a ₦1 billion defamation judgment delivered against her by a Kogi State High Court.
This legal blow comes after a protracted battle with the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who sought judicial redress over comments made by the lawmaker during a high-profile media appearance.
Presiding Judge, Justice A. S. Ibrahim, delivered the verdict in suit number HCL/16/2023, sitting in Lokoja. The court ruled that the Senator’s remarks during an Arise Television interview on November 4, 2022, were deeply “injurious” and lacked the necessary legal “justification.”
The judge maintained that the evidence presented did not support the gravity of the labels used by the lawmaker.
The court specifically pointed to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s description of Bello as a “murderer,” “killer,” and a “terror to the people of Kogi State.” These descriptions were found to have crossed the line from political criticism into character assassination.
Justice Ibrahim held that “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,” subsequently ordering the staggering ₦1 billion payment in general damages.
Beyond the financial penalty, the court issued a perpetual injunction. This order strictly bars Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her associates from publishing or uttering any further defamatory statements against the former governor across all media platforms.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has remained defiant in the face of the ruling, accusing the court of overlooking the evidence filed by her legal team.
She insisted that her public statements were made in “good faith” and were intended to address issues of public accountability and safety within Kogi State.
“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 stated shortly after the verdict.
She further argued that her comments were rooted in information available to her at the time and were meant to protect the interests of her constituents.
The Senator has already instructed her lawyers to move the case to the Court of Appeal. She expressed confidence that a higher court would see the merit in her defense and overturn the massive fine.
“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 added.
This latest legal clash is a continuation of the intense and often bitter political rivalry between the two Ebira-born politicians.
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