Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has dragged Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to court over an alleged case of defamation.
In the suit filed at the Kogi State High Court last week, Governor Bello prayed the court to compel Akpoti-Uduaghan to tender an unreserved apology to him on four national television stations.
The Kogi State governor told the court to restrain Akpoti-Uduaghan from making further statements about him.
Governor Bello is also demanding the sum of five billion naira as damages from Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The governor’s suit reads:
“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 libelous 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 (N5,000,000,000.00) 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.”
Politics Nigeria reports that Governor Bello’s allegation comes barely two weeks after the tribunal sitting in Lokoja declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial district election.
