Manny Ita –
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed her statement of defence in response to a ₦1 billion defamation suit instituted against her by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, firmly denying all allegations of defamation.
The defence, dated April 20, 2026, was submitted by her counsel, Joshua Usman (SAN), countering claims brought forward by Bello through his lawyer, Chief R.O. Balogun (SAN). Bello is seeking ₦1 billion in aggravated and exemplary damages, along with a perpetual injunction to restrain the senator from making further alleged defamatory statements.
In her filing, Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that the statements cited in the suit were made out of genuine concern for her safety, intended to alert authorities and the public to what she described as a credible threat to her life. She linked the alleged threat to political tensions involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming the danger materialized in April 2025 when her residence in Ihima, Kogi State, was attacked by gunmen, though unsuccessful.
The senator admitted granting interviews where the statements were made but rejected any interpretation that directly implicated Bello, insisting she neither defamed his character nor made statements targeting him personally.
The suit stems from remarks allegedly made during a homecoming rally and on a televised programme, where Bello claims Akpoti-Uduaghan portrayed him as a criminal and linked him to an alleged assassination plot. He argues that the statements damaged his reputation and exposed him to public ridicule and distrust both locally and internationally.
The case, which was initiated in 2025, was last heard earlier this week and has been adjourned to May 20, 2026, for further proceedings.
