UWAHALA: Court Slams Senator Natasha ₦1 Billion Damages Over Defamation Suit by Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello

The High Court of Kogi State, sitting in Lokoja, on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026, awarded ₦1 billion in general damages against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the senator from making further defamatory statements against the former governor.

The legal battle stemmed from a 2023 televised interview on Arise TV, during which Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the then-sitting governor as a “serial killer.” Bello subsequently sued for ₦5 billion, claiming the statement was malicious, unfounded, and calculated to bring his reputation into public odium and contempt.

In her defence, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, through her legal team, argued that her comments were justified based on events leading up to the 2023 General Elections.

However, the presiding judge ruled that the evidence presented did not satisfy the legal requirements for justification or fair comment.

Delivering judgment, the court held that the language used was defamatory and injurious to the claimant’s character. It ordered the senator to pay ₦1 billion in damages a reduction from the ₦5 billion initially claimed and issued a perpetual injunction barring her from repeating similar defamatory statements in any form.

This ruling represents a major twist in the long-running political and legal rivalry between the two prominent Kogi figures.

As of the time of filing this report, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team has not indicated whether they will appeal the verdict at the Court of Appeal.