Defamation: Court orders Natasha to pay Yahaya Bello N1bn

A High Court in Lokoja has ruled in favor of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in a defamation lawsuit, ordering Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay N1 billion in damages.

The judgment, officially documented in a Certified True Copy dated April 23, marks a significant legal development in the ongoing disputes involving the prominent politicians.

The court held that, on the strength of evidence presented and based on the balance of probabilities, the case was decided in favour of the claimant.

Delivering judgment in suit number “HCL/16/2023”, Justice A. S. Ibrahim ruled that the key issues raised for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.

“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 said interview of 4/11/2022 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.”

In addition to the damages, the court issued “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, restraining them from making further defamatory statements against the claimant across broadcast platforms.

“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 said.

TheLeader that Bello had approached the court, alleging defamation of character.

Earlier in the proceedings, counsel to the defendant, Johnson J. Usman, SAN, had questioned the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the suit constituted an abuse of court process.

However, counsel to Bello, Friday Ekpa, maintained that none of the related matters before the FCT High Court involved the person of Yahaya Bello.

Following the High Court’s decision affirming its jurisdiction, Akpoti-Uduaghan challenged the ruling at the appellate court.

The Court of Appeal, in case number “CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024”, dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and upheld the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court to hear the matter.