The long-standing political feud between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and former Governor Yahaya Bello has reached a boiling point following a landmark judicial ruling. On Thursday, April 23, 2026, a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja ordered the Senator to pay ₦1 billion in damages for defamatory statements made against Bello during a 2022 television interview.
Justice A. S. Ibrahim, presiding over suit HCL/16/2023, ruled that the Senator’s description of the former governor as a “murderer” and “terror to the people” was unjustified. However, the victory for Bello was short-lived in the court of public opinion. Senator Natasha immediately took to social media to declare her defiance, specifically targeting an official post by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The “Shishi” Provocation: In a viral comment under an EFCC post regarding Bello’s ongoing ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial, the Senator stated that the former governor would not get “shishi” (a dime) from her. She challenged the commission to “hurry up” with its prosecution, suggesting that Bello intended to use her damages payment to refund stolen public funds. This defiant stance has ignited a firestorm, with supporters praising her boldness while legal critics argue it borders on contempt of court.
The Investigative Context: This judgment is the culmination of a three-year legal battle rooted in a November 2022 appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show. While the Senator’s legal team previously challenged the court’s jurisdiction, the Court of Appeal recently cleared the path for this ruling. The timing is particularly sensitive; the ₦1 billion award comes while Bello remains a “wanted” figure by the EFCC, creating a surreal scenario where a court-ordered creditor is simultaneously a federal criminal suspect.
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