Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to challenge the ₦1 billion defamation ruling in favour of Yahaya Bello, insisting the court ignored key evidence and promising to fight the case at the Court of Appeal. The judgment, delivered in Lokoja by Justice A. S. Ibrahim, found that her comments during a television interview were defamatory and unjustified. […]
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has vowed to challenge the ₦1 billion defamation ruling in favour of Yahaya Bello, insisting the court ignored key evidence and promising to fight the case at the Court of Appeal.
The judgment, delivered in Lokoja by Justice A. S. Ibrahim, found that her comments during a television interview were defamatory and unjustified.
The court concluded that the statements went beyond political expression and harmed Bello’s public image.
It also issued an injunction barring the senator and her associates from making further statements of a similar nature.
Reacting to the ruling, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed the judgment and insisted that her remarks were based on information available to her at the time.
She maintained that her intention was to address matters affecting public safety and accountability in Kogi State.
The senator criticised the court for failing to give due consideration to the evidence presented in her defence.
She has since instructed her legal team to challenge the verdict at the Court of Appeal.
According to her, the case is far from over and will be pursued through all legal channels.
Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed confidence that the appellate court would recognise the strength of her arguments.
The dispute reflects a prolonged political rivalry between both figures, which has now shifted into the legal arena.
Legal analysts say the outcome of the appeal could influence future cases involving defamation and political speech.