Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected a ₦1 billion defamation judgment delivered against her by a Kogi State High Court, insisting that her comments about former governor Yahaya Bello were made in self-defence.
The lawmaker, who represents Kogi Central, said she would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal, describing the verdict as flawed and a miscarriage of justice.
Justice A.S. Ibrahim, in a judgment delivered in Lokoja last Thursday, ordered Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay ₦1 billion in damages to Bello over statements made during a television appearance on November 4, 2022. The court held that her remarks—where she described the former governor as “a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State”—were defamatory and unjustified.
The suit, marked HCL/16/2023, was decided in Bello’s favour, with the court also issuing a perpetual injunction restraining the senator and her associates from making further defamatory statements against him in any media.
Reacting to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan said her comments were a direct response to what she described as “grievous accusations” of terrorism allegedly made against her by the former governor.
“I went on national television to debunk the allegations made against me. I was accused of terrorism, and I had every right to defend myself before the Nigerian public,” she said.
She further argued that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented in her defence.
“I reject this judgment in totality. We presented enough evidence before the court to justify our position, but it is clear that these were not properly considered,” she added.
The senator also pointed to the security situation in Kogi State during Bello’s administration, alleging that many communities, particularly in Kogi Central, suffered significant losses.
“There were numerous killings in Kogi State while he was governor. Many families are still grieving. These are real issues that cannot be ignored,” she said.
Reaffirming her stance, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her remarks were driven by a need for accountability and to highlight the experiences of affected communities.
“This matter does not end here. We will seek redress at the Court of Appeal to ensure that justice prevails,” she stated.
