“Talk And Pay! Kogi Court Slams Natasha With Record ₦1bn For ‘Reckless’ Allegations”
by Passman Akpos
A High Court in Kogi State has awarded ₦1 billion in damages to former governor Yahaya Bello in a defamation suit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, delivering a judgment that is already stirring intense political and legal debate.
In suit No. HCL/16/2023, the court ruled decisively in favour of Bello, holding that he successfully proved his case on the balance of probabilities. The case centered on comments made by the senator during a November 4, 2022 appearance on The Morning Show, aired on Arise TV
According to the court, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s description of Bello as a “murderer,” “killer,” and “perpetrator of evil acts” was defamatory and unjustified, causing significant damage to his reputation. The judge declared the statements a clear violation of the former governor’s character.In a sweeping order, the court issued a perpetual injunction restraining the senator, her agents, and associates from making any further defamatory statements against Bello across all broadcast platforms.
Beyond the injunction, the court awarded ₦1 billion in damages—one of the most significant defamation penalties in recent Nigerian political history—sending a strong warning about the consequences of unverified public allegations.
The legal battle, filed in 2023, had earlier faced a jurisdictional challenge from the defence, which argued that the suit constituted an abuse of court process. However, Bello’s legal team countered that similar cases before the FCT High Court did not directly involve him.
The High Court upheld its authority to hear the case, a stance later reinforced when the Court of Appeal dismissed the senator’s challenge in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/626/2024, ruling that it lacked merit.
The ruling is expected to trigger wider conversations about political speech, media responsibility, and the boundaries of criticism in Nigeria’s democratic space.
