A defamation suit filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State, against Governor Yahaya Bello has been dismissed by the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court, Nyanya Judicial Division.
The court dismissed the suit marked “CV/412/2022” for incompetence in a ruling delivered on Friday by Justice Idris Mua’wiya.
The suit, filed on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Chambers of Femi Falana, SAN, was dismissed after counsel to Kogi State Governor, Abdulwahab Muhammed, SAN, objected to the suit’s competence.
Following receipt of Muhammed, SAN’s preliminary objection, the plaintiff’s counsel sought to amend the defective suit.
In dismissing the suit, the court agreed with counsel to the Kogi State governor’s submission that an incompetent originating process cannot be amended.
Last November, Akpoti-Uduaghan sued the Kogi State governor and others for allegedly defaming her character.
She sought N5 billion in damages in connection with a publication in which the state government urged security agencies to question her about her public defense of an alleged terror suspect.
According to her, the aforementioned publication harmed her reputation.