Court Orders Natasha Akpoti to Pay Yahaya Bello ₦1bn

The High Court in Abuja has ruled that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan must pay former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello ₦1 billion for defamation. This judgment, delivered by Justice Ibrahim, relates to comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Arise Television on November 4, 2022.

The court found that her remarks, which included serious allegations against Bello, unjustifiably injured his character and reputation. The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan and her associates from making further defamatory statements against Bello across any media platforms.

In response to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the judgment, claiming the court did not adequately evaluate the evidence she presented and asserting that her comments were made in the public interest. She confirmed her legal team would file an appeal against the judgment, indicating that the legal battle is far from over and will continue to test the boundaries of free expression and reputation protection in Nigeria.