Natasha Akpoti to Pay Yahaya Bello ₦1bn Over Defamation

A High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has ordered Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay ₦1 billion in damages to former Governor Yahaya Bello in a defamation suit.

The judgment, delivered on April 23, 2026, followed a case filed by Bello, who accused the senator of making defamatory statements against him during a televised interview.

Justice A. S. Ibrahim, in his ruling, held that the statements made by the defendant were injurious to the claimant’s reputation and were not justified.

“The interview granted by the defendant… is defamatory to the claimant’s character and reputation.”

The court further restrained the senator and her associates from making any further defamatory statements against Bello, issuing a perpetual injunction.

“The sum of one billion naira (N1,000,000,000) only (is) awarded as damages against the Defendant and in favour of the Claimant.”

The case stemmed from remarks made during a media appearance, where the senator allegedly described the former governor in damaging terms. The court ruled that such statements failed to meet the legal threshold for justification or fair comment.

The ruling marks a significant development in the legal dispute between the two prominent Kogi political figures, with potential implications for political discourse and defamation laws in Nigeria.