Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan says she is heading to the Court of Appeal to challenge the a ₦1 billion damages award against her in a defamation suit filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who rejected the lower court ruling, said she was only defending herself against terrorism allegations.
In a statement by her Media Office, in Abuja, on Saturday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said, “I reject this judgment in its entirety. We presented substantial and credible evidence before the court, which, in our view, clearly justified our position. Unfortunately, these were not given due consideration.”
She said her remarks on Arise Television’s “The Morning Show” were a response to Bello’s allegations, adding that “If there is anybody to be accused of terrorism, it should be Yahaya Bello and not me.
“My comments were rooted in the experiences of our people and the need to speak truth to power.”
The Senator accused the court of failure to properly evaluate her evidence, saying her statements were made in the public interest and not out of malice. “We presented substantial and credible evidence… which were not given due consideration.
“My statements were based on information available at the time and were made in good faith, in the interest of accountability to the people of Kogi State.
“I firmly believe that the truth was not adequately reflected in the court’s findings. We are heading to the Court of Appeal. This is not the end of the matter. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that justice is served.”
