The Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has awarded N1 billion in damages against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a defamation suit filed by the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The order is contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment dated April 23.
The court held that based on the preponderance of evidence and the balance of probabilities, judgment was entered in favor of the claimant. Delivering his judgment in the suit marked HCL/16/2023, Justice A. S. Ibrahim held that the two issues formulated for determination were resolved in favor of the claimant.
“The interview granted by the defendant on 4/11/2022 on the Arise TV programme ‘The Morning Show’ is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation,” the judge stated.
“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.”
The court also granted an order of perpetual injunction against the defendant, her agents, privies, or associates, restraining them from further issuance of defamatory statements against the claimant on television or radio stations.
“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) only is awarded as damages against the defendant and in favor of the claimant,” the court ruled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Bello sued Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamation of character following the televised interview.
The defendant’s counsel, Johnson J. Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had initially challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the suit was an abuse of court process. However, Mr. Bello’s counsel, Friday Ekpa, countered the motion, noting that no other pending cases involving the parties addressed the specific claims made in this suit.
After the High Court ruled that it had the jurisdiction to entertain the case, Akpoti-Uduaghan appealed the ruling. However, the Court of Appeal (in appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024) dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the jurisdiction of the Kogi State High Court.
NAN
