A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over what the court described as defamatory statements made during a television interview.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday, April 23, 2026, by Justice A. S. Ibrahim in suit number HCL/16/2023, ruled in favour of Bello after finding that the senator’s remarks during an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on November 4, 2022, were defamatory and unjustifiable.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment, the court held that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s comments, in which she allegedly described Bello as “a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State,” damaged the former governor’s reputation.
Justice Ibrahim said:
“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 judge further ruled:
“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.”
Court Issues Perpetual Injunction
In addition to the ₦1 billion damages, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, her agents, associates, or privies from making further defamatory statements against Bello on television, radio, or other public platforms.
The judgment stated:
“The sum of one billion naira (₦1,000,000,000) only is awarded as damages against the Defendant and in favour of the claimant.”
Legal Battle and Appeal
Yahaya Bello had initially filed the defamation suit against Akpoti-Uduaghan, prompting her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Johnson J. Usman, to challenge the jurisdiction of the Lokoja High Court, arguing that the matter was an abuse of court process.
However, Bello’s counsel, Friday Ekpa, countered that the cases pending before the Federal Capital Territory High Court were unrelated to Bello personally.
The Kogi State High Court ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case. Dissatisfied with the decision, Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed.
In appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the jurisdiction of the Lokoja High Court.
Political Implications
The ruling may have far-reaching political implications in Kogi State and beyond, given the long-standing political rivalry between Yahaya Bello and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Observers say the judgment could reshape political narratives in Kogi politics as both figures remain influential in the state’s political landscape.
As of the time of filing this report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not officially reacted to the judgment.
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