Court awards N1bn damages against Senator Natasha for ‘defaming’Yahaya Bello

A high court sitting in Lokoja has awarded N1 billion in damages against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.

The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim in suit number HCL/16/2023, held that the claimant proved his case on the balance of probabilities.

According to the court, “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.”

The court also issued “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, restraining further publication of the defamatory statements on television or radio.

“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 ruled.

The case stemmed from a defamation suit filed by Bello, challenging remarks made by the senator during a television interview.

During proceedings, counsel to the defendant, Johnson J. Usman (SAN), had argued that the court lacked jurisdiction, describing the suit as an abuse of court process. However, Bello’s counsel, Friday Ekpa, countered the claim, maintaining that the matter was properly before the court.

The High Court had earlier affirmed its jurisdiction, a position later upheld by the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s appeal for lacking merit.

With the ruling, the court concluded the matter in favour of the former governor, awarding damages and imposing restrictions on further statements related to the case.