“Yahaya Bello Won’t Get a Shishi of ₦1 Billion Damages Awarded Him” — Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has said she will not pay the ₦1 billion damages awarded to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in a defamation suit decided by a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja.

The court awarded the damages after ruling that comments allegedly made by the Kogi Central senator during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise News were defamatory.

Reacting to the judgment, Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected the ruling and declared Bello would not receive any money from her.

“Do you know he procured a Kogi State High Court judgment of ₦1 billion against me yesterday?” she wrote in a comment on a Facebook post by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Bello over alleged ₦80.2 billion money laundering charges.

She added: “Can you imagine him thinking I would pay so he can add to the stolen monies he would refund?… Shi shi he no go see.”

Her response quickly spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions.

Supporters described her comments as a stand against what they view as politically motivated actions, while critics argued the remarks could be seen as dismissive of judicial authority and due process.