The Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has delivered a final judgment in the defamation lawsuit filed by former Governor Yahaya Bello against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court ordered the senator to pay ₦1 billion in damages for defamatory statements made during a television interview.
Court Ruling Details
Justice A. S. Ibrahim, presiding over suit number HCL/16/2023, ruled that the claimant, Yahaya Bello, successfully proved his case on the balance of probabilities. The judgment, contained in the Certified True Copy dated 23 April, resolved the matter in favor of the former governor after a thorough evaluation of evidence from both parties.
Defamatory Statements
The court found that comments made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during an appearance on The Morning Show program on Arise Television on 4 November 2022 were defamatory. The judge stated that the senator described the claimant as a “murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State,” which was unjustified and damaging to his reputation.
“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV programme of ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation,” the court ruled.
Perpetual Injunction
In addition to the monetary award, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, her associates, and agents from making or publishing any further defamatory statements against the claimant in any media platform, whether print, electronic, or social media.
“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) only is awarded as damages against the Defendant and in favour of the claimant,” the court stated.
Legal Challenges and Appeals
The defendant’s legal team, led by Johnson J. Usman, SAN, challenged the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court, arguing that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process. However, the claimant’s counsel, Friday Ekpa, maintained that the matter was distinct from other related proceedings.
The Court of Appeal, in appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024, earlier affirmed the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court and dismissed the senator’s appeal for lacking merit. The appellate court ruled that the lower court had the authority to adjudicate the matter.
This judgment marks the final resolution of the defamation case, which has been closely watched by political observers and legal analysts across Nigeria.
