Defamation; Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan drags Kogi state governor, others to court.

… claims ₦5 billion damages

The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), for Kogi Central, Chief Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has dragged the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and others to an Abuja High Court for allegedly defaming her character

Natasha is claiming 5 billion Naira damages for libelous publication by the Kogi State government where the government alleged that she has a link with an alleged terror suspect, Shafiu, and called on security agents to invite her for questioning, through her lawyer, Femi Falana SAN.

According to her, the libelous publication has dented her reputation after it was published and shared across various platforms.

In the petition, the Kogi State Government, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, and Vanguard Newspaper were listed as defendants.

Natasha is seeking an order of the court to declare that the publications are libelous and defamatory against her.

Also, she sought an order against the Defendants jointly and severally to pay the sum of N5,000, 000,000.00 as damages for the libelous publication by the Defendants against the Claimant in their various publications.

An order directing the defendants to jointly and severally retract the libelous publication and issue public apology.

She is also seeking an injunction restraining the Defendants jointly and severally by themselves, agents or servants or otherwise from publishing or causing to be published the said similar words defamatory against the Claimant.

The Kogi state government and other defendants listed in the petition have 14 days to respond.