Ogona Anita
A High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the case filed by Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Bello had taken the matter to court in May 2024, accusing Senator Natasha of violating his rights, including his privacy.
He claimed that Natasha shared photos of his home and its address on social media in March 2024, saying that former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello was hiding there while being wanted by the EFCC.
Bello also alleged that the senator wrongly described the house as belonging to the former governor, commonly referred to as the “White Lion of Kogi.”
In the suit, Bello asked the court to recognise his rights under several sections of the Nigerian Constitution.
He also demanded one billion Naira in damages and a public apology from senator Natasha
He argued that the social media post put his family at risk and violated his right to privacy.
Justice Slyvanius Oriji, who ruled on the case, explained that there were three main questions the court had to consider.
One of them was whether posting the house’s picture and address online truly broke Bello’s right to privacy.
The judge ruled that a building that is already visible to the public cannot be considered private just because its photo appears online.
He said the court could not see how the post would be seen as deeply offensive to a reasonable person.
The court also found that there was no proof that the EFCC ever stormed the house based on the senator’s post, and no evidence showed the house belonged to the former governor as claimed.
During a court visit to the property, it was confirmed that Bello and his family actually lived there, and nothing supported the senator’s claim of ownership.
Justice Oriji said it was wrong for a sitting senator to share someone’s home address publicly without enough reason.
However, despite that action, he ruled that Bello did not deserve the one billion Naira he was seeking in damages, nor a public apology.
In the end, the judge declared that both parties would pay for their own legal costs and closed the case.
In the same vain Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has made her first court appearance since initiating legal action to challenge her recent suspension from the Senate. The court session, which took place earlier this week, saw the senator facing contempt charges brought against her.
The charges follow a motion filed by Senate Counsel, Paul Daudu SAN, and the Senate President’s legal representative, Eko Ejembi SAN. The legal team accuses the senator of disregarding Senate procedures and attempting to undermine its authority through her public and legal actions.
Observers say the case could set a critical precedent for how internal disciplinary measures in the National Assembly are handled legally. Meanwhile, the senator maintains that her suspension was unjust and politically motivated.
