Defamation case: Court orders Sen. Natasha to pay Yahaya Bello N1bn

n n

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

n

A High Court in Lokoja has awarded N1billion in damages against Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.

n

The order is contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment, dated April 23, in Lokoja.

n

The court held that based on the preponderance of evidence or balance of probabilities, judgment was entered in favour of the claimant.

n

Justice A. S. Ibrahim, while delivering his judgment in the suit marked “HCL/16/2023”, held that upon the conclusion of the suit, the two issues formulated for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.

n

“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.

n

“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.”

n

The court also gave “an order of perpetual injunction against the Defendant, [his] agents, privies or associates”, restraining them from further issuance of the defamatory statements or words against the claimant on TV or radio stations.

n

“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 said.

n

NAN reports Bello had sued Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation of character.

n

The Defendant’s Counsel, Johnson J. Usman, SAN, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court, saying that the suit was an abuse of court process.

n

Bello’s Counsel, Friday Ekpa, however, countered that, saying that none of the cases before the FCT High Court was against the person of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

n

After the High Court ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the case, Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed the ruling.

n

The Court of Appeal, in the appeal number “CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024”, however, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and affirmed that the Kogi State High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the case.

n

(NAN)

n n