Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to Appeal ₦1 Billion Defamation Ruling

Natasha Blasts ₦1bn Bello Ruling, Heads to Appeal Court

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has thrown down the gauntlet after the Kogi State High Court slammed her with a ₦1 billion defamation judgment in favour of Yahaya Bello. With an appeal now in motion, the bitter political war between both camps has exploded into a fresh legal showdown that could reverberate far beyond Kogi State.

Atlantic Post

April 26, 2026

2–3 minutes

Court of Appeal, defamation, Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Nigerian Politics, Yahaya Bello

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has rejected the Kogi State High Court’s ₦1 billion defamation judgment in favour of former governor Yahaya Bello, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

The judgment, delivered by Justice A. S. Ibrahim in suit HCL/16/2023, stemmed from a November 4, 2022 Arise TV interview in which the senator made a series of explosive allegations against the then governor.

The court ruled that her comments were defamatory, injurious and without justification. It said her description of Bello as a murderer, killer and a terror to the people of Kogi State crossed the legal line and damaged his reputation.

In addition to the huge damages award, the court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan and her associates from making further defamatory remarks against Bello across any media platform.

But the senator has hit back hard, dismissing the ruling as a grave miscarriage of justice.

She said her legal team had presented strong and credible evidence, which she believes the court failed to properly consider.

“I reject this judgment in its entirety,” she said, insisting that her comments were made in good faith and in the public interest.

Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that her remarks were based on information available at the time and were intended to expose matters affecting the people of Kogi State.

She confirmed that her lawyers have already been instructed to file an appeal.

“We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served,” she added.

The ruling adds another fierce chapter to the long-running and bitter political war between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Bello, a clash marked by accusations of intimidation, assassination attempts, electoral manipulation and abuse of power.

Bello has repeatedly denied the allegations. Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, has continued to insist that she was targeted in a bid to silence her political voice.

The battle has now moved to the appellate court, where the ₦1 billion award will face fresh scrutiny and the political temperature around the case is likely to rise even further.