Kogi: Again, Yahaya Bello Defeats Natasha Akpoti In Court

Court Dismisses Suit Filed Against Bello By Akpoti

A suit filed by Natasha Akpoti against Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has been dismissed by the Federal High Court of Abuja.

The court in its ruling on Monday, stated that Akpoti lacks the legal right as an individual to institute the case she brought before the court.

Naija News reports Natasha Akpoti is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi state and had instituted a legal case against Governor, Yahaya Bello, for the alleged offence of double registration as a voter.

She, therefore, approached the court to disqualify Gov. Bello as a genuine candidate for the Kogi governorship election over the allegation of double registration.

However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering judgement in the matter, held that the alleged offence was criminal and not a civil case which could be instituted by an individual.

He declared that the plaintiff had no legal right to institute the case.

Meanwhile, it will be recalled Barr. Akpoti, back in December 2019, approached the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on the outcome of the polls.

In her petition filed before the tribunal, she is requesting for the nullification of the poll.

She has listed the winner of the election, Gov. Yahaya Bello, his running mate Edward Onoja, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as respondents in the petition.

In Akpoti’s submission, the election was marred with massive irregularities and violence and she is, therefore, urging the tribunal to ask Bello to vacate the seat and order INEC to conduct a fresh election.