Senator Natasha Vows to Appeal ₦1 Billion Defamation Judgment

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has formally rejected the Kogi State High Court judgment ordering her to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Governor Yahaya Bello. In a statement released through her media office on Saturday, the senator representing Kogi Central dismissed the verdict in its entirety. She maintained that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented during the trial.

The dispute stems from a November 2022 interview on Arise Television where the senator made several grave allegations against the then-governor. Justice A.S. Ibrahim ruled that describing Bello as a “murderer” and a “terror to the people” was legally unjustified and injurious to his reputation. The court subsequently issued a perpetual injunction to prevent her from making further similar claims.

In her reaction, the senator argued that her statements were a necessary defense against previous accusations made by Bello himself. She claimed that her comments were “rooted in the experiences of our people” and were intended to hold the state government accountable. She insisted that she was speaking truth to power rather than acting out of personal malice.

Addressing the specific nature of the claims, Akpoti-Uduaghan stood by her earlier assertions regarding security in the state. She stated: “If there is anybody to be accused of terrorism, it should be Yahaya Bello and not me.” The senator emphasized that her role as a public representative necessitated speaking out on matters of public interest and safety.

The senator expressed strong disappointment that the court did not find her evidence credible or sufficient to justify her position. She maintained that her statements were made in good faith based on information available to her at the time of the broadcast. “I firmly believe that the truth was not adequately reflected in the court’s findings,” she remarked while criticizing the judicial evaluation.

Concluding her statement, Akpoti-Uduaghan confirmed that her legal team is already preparing to take the matter to the next level. She signaled that the legal battle is far from over, asserting: “We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter.” The senator remains committed to pursuing all lawful avenues to overturn the billion-naira award.