Yahaya Bello Slams N5 Billion Defamation Suit Against Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has slammed a five billion naira defamation suit against the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Naija News understands that Bello, in the suit filed at the Kogi State High Court last week, is requesting the sum of N5 billion from the PDP chieftain as damages.

Among other prayers, the governor is praying for the court to give  Akpoti-Uduaghan a restraining order from making further statements about him and slam her the sum of N5 billion as damages.

This development is coming after the election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the winner of the February 25 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

In the governor’s fresh suit, other demands include “A declaration that the defendant’s oral interview aired on Arise on the 4th day of November 2022 which described the Claimant as a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts and a terror to the people Kogi State is capable of and indeed, has lowered the Claimant the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

“An order of this honourable court compelling the defendant to, within 48 hours of the order of this court, publish in five (5) national dailies and also grant broadcast statement in Arise TV, AIT, NTA and Channel TV platforms, a retraction of her frivolous allegations and also tender unreserved apology to the Claimant for the defamatory statements and comments made against him.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant either acting by herself, or through agents, privies, associates, howsoever described from any publication or further broadcast of the defamatory words and statements complained of or any other similar libellous articles about the claimant or in any other manner, or online, on print or social media, or say or produce any other material on TV or radio which is capable of defaming the claimant.

“An award of the sum of Five Billion (₦5,000,000,000.00) Naira only as damages against the Defendant but in favour of the Claimant for the defamatory Broadcast on Arise TV Platform made on the 4th day of November 2022.

“Cost of litigation of five hundred million (N500,000,000) naira only against the defendant.”