Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected a ₦1 billion defamation judgment delivered against her by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
The judgment was awarded in favour of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, who filed the suit over comments the senator made during a live appearance on The Morning Show, a programme on Arise Television, in November 2022.
In his ruling, Justice A. S. Ibrahim held that the statements made by Akpoti-Uduaghan were defamatory and injurious to Bello’s reputation.
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining her from making further similar remarks, alongside the ₦1 billion damages.
The judge noted that the allegations raised by the senator during the broadcast were not backed by sufficient evidence presented before the court.
Reacting to the verdict, the senator’s media office expressed strong disagreement, arguing that her defence and supporting evidence were not adequately considered in the judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her remarks were made in response to allegations against her and were intended to serve the public interest, not to malign the former governor.
She further stated that her comments were based on information available at the time and reflected concerns raised by her constituents.
Insisting that the ruling does not fully represent the facts of the case, the senator confirmed her decision to appeal, setting the stage for a continued legal battle at the appellate court.