A Kogi State High Court has ordered Senator Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan to pay former Governor Yahaya Bello 1 billion naira in damages over a defamation case.
Justice Abdullahi Umar delivered the judgment Thursday, ruling that Akpoti‑Uduaghan’s statements against Bello were injurious to his reputation and amounted to defamation. The court held that the senator failed to substantiate her claims and therefore must compensate the former governor.
Bello, who served as governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, had filed the suit alleging that Akpoti‑Uduaghan made false and damaging remarks about his administration. His counsel argued that the comments were politically motivated and intended to tarnish his image.
Akpoti‑Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the Senate, has not yet publicly responded to the ruling. Her legal team is expected to appeal the judgment.
The case underscores rising tensions between Bello and Akpoti‑Uduaghan, two of Kogi’s most prominent political figures, and highlights the growing use of defamation suits in Nigeria’s political landscape.
