POLITICS

Kogi State Governor Files ₦5 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against PDP Senatorial Candidate

Published

7 months ago

September 23, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

Kogi State Governor Files ₦5 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against PDP Senatorial Candidate

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi Central Senatorial District. The governor has taken legal action to seek damages totalling five billion nairas from Akpoti-Uduaghan.

This lawsuit, filed at the Kogi State High Court, includes several demands. Governor Bello requests the court to award him five billion naira in damages and issue a restraining order prohibiting Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further defamatory statements about him.

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The legal action follows the verdict of the election petition tribunal in Lokoja, which declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the winner of the February 25 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

Among the specific requests in the governor’s lawsuit are:

A declaration that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s oral interview aired on Arise TV on November 4, 2022, in which she described the governor as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State, has damaged Governor Bello’s reputation among right-thinking members of society.
An order compelling Akpoti-Uduaghan to publish retractions of her defamatory allegations and issue an unreserved apology to Governor Bello within 48 hours in five national newspapers and on TV platforms such as Arise TV, AIT, NTA, and Channel TV.
A perpetual injunction restraining Akpoti-Uduaghan, her agents, associates, or any other party from publishing or broadcasting any further defamatory statements, similar libellous articles, or materials that could harm Governor Bello’s reputation, whether in print, social media, TV, or radio.
An award of five billion nairas as damages in favour of Governor Bello for the defamatory broadcast on Arise TV on November 4, 2022.
Legal costs amounting to five hundred million naira.

This lawsuit reflects Governor Bello’s commitment to defending his reputation and seeking redress for what he considers defamatory statements made against him by Akpoti-Uduaghan. The legal proceedings will determine the outcome of this contentious issue.