A High Court in Lokoja has awarded N1 billion in damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
The order is contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 23, delivered in Lokoja.
The court held that, based on the preponderance of evidence, judgment was entered in favour of the claimant.
Justice A. S. Ibrahim, delivering judgment in suit No. HCL/16/2023, said the two issues formulated for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.
“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on Arise TV’s The Morning Show is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation.
“The said interview… 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 held.
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents, privies, or associates from further publishing defamatory statements against the claimant on television or radio.
“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) is awarded as damages against the defendant and in favour of the claimant,” the court ruled.
Ex – governor Bello had sued Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation of character.
The defendant’s counsel, Johnson J. Usman, SAN, had challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the suit constituted an abuse of court process.
However, Bello’s counsel, Friday Ekpa, countered that none of the cases before the FCT High Court involved Yahaya Bello personally.
After the High Court affirmed its jurisdiction, Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed the ruling.
The Court of Appeal, in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024, dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and upheld the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court to hear the case. (NAN)
