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Kogi High Court Awards N1 Billion Damages to Ex-Governor Bello in Defamation Suit
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Kogi High Court Awards N1 Billion Damages to Ex-Governor Bello in Defamation Suit

From Vanguard · (12m ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A Kogi State High Court awarded former governor Yahaya Bello N1 billion in damages in a defamation suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
  • The court found that an interview where the senator called Bello a "murderer" and "killer" was defamatory.
  • A perpetual injunction was also issued, restraining the senator from making further defamatory statements against Bello.

In a significant legal victory, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been awarded N1 billion in damages by the Kogi State High Court in a defamation suit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court's judgment, delivered in suit No. HCL/16/2023, found that the senator's statements in a November 4, 2022, Arise TV interview were indeed defamatory and caused substantial damage to Bello's reputation.

murderer

— Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghanas cited by the court in the defamation case

The court specifically cited the senator's use of terms like "murderer," "killer," and "perpetrator of evil acts" as unjustified and a clear violation of Bello's character. This ruling not only grants substantial financial compensation but also imposes a perpetual injunction, preventing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and her associates from uttering further defamatory remarks against the former governor on any broadcast platform.

killer

— Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghanas cited by the court in the defamation case

The legal battle, initiated in 2023, saw initial challenges regarding the court's jurisdiction, which the defense argued constituted an abuse of process. However, Bello's legal team successfully countered these claims, and the High Court's jurisdiction was upheld, a decision subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal. This outcome underscores the gravity with which the courts view defamation and the protection afforded to individuals' reputations.

perpetrator of evil acts

— Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghanas cited by the court in the defamation case
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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