Other defendants are the state government and the state information and communications commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo.
The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi State Central Senatorial district for the 2023 elections, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sued the state governor, Yahaha Bello, and others for linking her to terrorism.
Other defendants are the state government and the state information and communications commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo.
The state government had called on heads of security agencies in Nigeria to invite Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for questioning over alleged terrorism capable of dragging the state back to “the dark era.”
It said despite Governor Bello’s interventions to rid the state of terrorism, it was concerned that some politicians were grooming terrorists in the state as well as importing them from neighbouring states.
This was alleged in a statement issued by Fanwo, who noted that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had exhibited enough actions to be invited over terrorism-related activities, particularly with how the PDP and organisations linked to Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan had advocated for the release of an alleged terrorist named Safiu, who is being detained by the Department of State Services.
In a court document filed by her legal team led by Mr Femi Falana (SAN), dated November 11, 2022, before the court which was sighted by SaharaReporters, Natasha described the government's statement as defamatory and injurious to her reputation.
Other members of the team are Mrs Funmi Falana Esq, Samuel Ogala Esq, Femi Adedeji Esq.
She, therefore, sought the order of the court to award in her favour N5 billion in damages, against the defendants.
The document reads in part: "...publication of 31st October, 2022 and at https://punchng.com/terrorism-
"A DECLARATION that the publication by the 1st, 2nd 3rd 9th and 10th Defendants in the Nigerian Tribune online publication of 31st October, 2022 at https://tribuneonlineng.com/
"AN ORDER against the Defendants jointly and severally to pay the sum of N5,000, 000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) as damages for the libelous publication by the Defendants against the Claimant in their various publications.
"AN ORDER directing the Defendants jointly and severally to retract the libelous publication and issue a public apology to the Claimant retracting the libelous publication.
"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."
