The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared that she will not comply with the ₦1 billion damages awarded against her in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
The ruling was delivered by a Lokoja-based High Court, which found that statements allegedly made by the senator during an appearance on The Morning Show were defamatory. The court awarded damages in favour of Bello, relying on the balance of probabilities.
Reacting to the judgment, Akpoti-Uduaghan took to social media, posting under a comment thread involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is currently prosecuting Bello over alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering charges.
In a strongly worded response, she dismissed the ruling and ruled out any possibility of compliance.
“Dear Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, kindly hurry up. Do you know he procured a Kogi State High Court judgment of ₦1 billion against me yesterday? Can you imagine him thinking I would pay so he can add to the stolen monies he would refund? Yeye… shi shi he no go see,” she wrote.
Her comment, blending formal tone with street slang, quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions across social media.
While supporters hailed her defiance as resistance against what they described as political intimidation, critics argued that her stance raises concerns about respect for judicial authority and adherence to due process.
The development adds another layer to the ongoing legal and political battle between both figures, with indications that the case may proceed to the appellate courts.
