Defamation war deepens as Senator Natasha appeals N1bn judgment, drags Yahaya Bello
N1bn Defamation: Senator Natasha drags case to Appeal Court, targets Yahaya Bello
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has directed her legal team to challenge a High Court ruling that awarded N1 billion in damages to former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Speaking on Friday, the Kogi Central lawmaker confirmed her decision to proceed to the appellate courts.
“We are appealing the judgment. I don’t have N1 billion. We will drag the matter to the Supreme Court,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan faulted the judgment, alleging that the court ignored key evidence presented by her defence.
The dispute stems from allegations made in 2022, when the Kogi State Government accused her of links to terrorism, including involvement in the Kuje Prison break and the Owo church massacre.
Rejecting the claims, the senator maintained she was out of the country at the time of both incidents and had no connection to individuals allegedly linked to the attacks.
She further accused Bello of orchestrating efforts to implicate her for political reasons, claiming he pressured security agencies, including the DSS, to arrest her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also referenced a past interview on Arise Television, where she said she presented materials to counter the allegations and questioned Bello’s associations.
In a defiant stance, she challenged the former governor to institute further defamation suits if necessary.
The senator, who said she is still consulting on her political future, also raised concerns about insecurity in Kogi State, citing violence, fear, and cases of missing persons.
