A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has ordered Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in a defamation case.
ConfirmNews gathered that Bello filed the suit after statements allegedly made by the senator during an interview on ARISE Television.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 23 and obtained by NAN, the court ruled in favour of Bello after considering the evidence presented by both parties.
Delivering judgment in the case marked HCL/16/2023 on Friday, Justice A. S. Ibrahim said the issues raised for determination were resolved in favour of the claimant.
The court further granted a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan, her agents, associates, or representatives from making or publishing further defamatory statements against Bello on television, radio, or any other platform.
Justice Ibrahim held that the interview granted by the defendant on November 4, 2022, during ARISE TV’s The Morning Show, was defamatory to Bello’s character and reputation.
The court stated that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s remarks in which she allegedly described Bello as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State were made without justification.
As part of the judgment, the court awarded ₦1 billion damages against the senator in favour of the former governor.
