Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected a ₦1 billion damages award issued against her in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, insisting that her statements were made in self defense and in the public interest.
The ruling was delivered by the Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja. Justice A S Ibrahim held that comments made by the senator during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television on November 4 2022 were defamatory and harmful to Bello’s reputation.
According to the judgment the court found that Akpoti Uduaghan’s remarks which described Bello in severe terms including allegations of violent conduct were not supported by sufficient evidence. The court therefore ruled in favor of Bello awarding ₦1 billion in general damages and issuing a perpetual injunction restraining the senator from making further defamatory statements across media platforms.
Reacting to the decision the senator strongly disagreed with the outcome stating that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented by her legal team. She maintained that her comments were a response to accusations made against her and were grounded in what she described as the experiences of the people of Kogi State.
“My comments were rooted in the need to speak truth to power and ensure accountability,” she said, adding that they were made in good faith and not with malicious intent.
Akpoti Uduaghan further revealed plans to challenge the ruling at the appellate level expressing confidence that a higher court would provide a fair reassessment of the case.
“We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter,” she said.
The case highlights ongoing legal and political tensions between both figures and underscores the broader debate around defamation public accountability and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
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