A Kogi State High Court has awarded former Governor Yahaya Bello ₦1 billion in damages and issued a permanent injunction against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for defamatory comments made during a 2022 television interview.
The Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has ordered Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Governor Yahaya Bello following a high-profile defamation suit. In a judgment delivered on April 23, 2026, Justice A.S. Ibrahim ruled that an interview granted by the Senator on Arise TV’s “The Morning Show” in November 2022 was defamatory. During the broadcast, the Senator had characterized Mr. Bello as a “murderer” and a “terror to the people of Kogi State,” claims the court found to be entirely without justification.
The legal battle reached its conclusion after the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge to the Kogi High Court’s jurisdiction, affirming that the lower court was the proper venue for the suit. Justice Ibrahim held that the preponderance of evidence supported Mr. Bello’s claim that his character and reputation had been unfairly maligned. The ₦1 billion award serves as a significant financial penalty for statements made during the heated political climate leading up to the state’s recent transitions.
In addition to the monetary damages, the court granted a perpetual injunction restraining Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, her agents, and associates from further disseminating defamatory statements against Mr. Bello across television or radio platforms. This ruling marks a decisive legal victory for the former governor, effectively barring the Senator from repeating the specific allegations that formed the basis of the lawsuit.