BREAKING: Court Frees Natasha Akpoti In Privacy Case, Slams Her For ‘Unethical’ Social Media Rants

A Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has thrown out a privacy violation lawsuit filed by Ali Bello, nephew of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello, against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court ruled that Bello, currently Chief of Staff to Kogi State’s governor, did not prove that Akpoti-Uduaghan infringed on his privacy through her social media activity.

Background

The suit was linked to a March 2024 post by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on (formerly Twitter), which announced charges against Yahaya Bello for alleged N84 billion fraud.

In a response to the EFCC’s post, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan commented:

“Dear @officialEFCC why did you delete this post on Facebook after I commented and requested that you kindly help find my favourite storybook ‘The Defeated White Lion’ at No. 1 Dala Hills Street, off Agulu Lake Street, Maitama, Abuja. That White House was amongst the 14 properties you approached the court for forfeiture in December 2022. Don’t delete this tweet o. Thanks and God bless Nigeria.”

Court Ruling

Presiding over the matter, Justice Sylvanus Oriji considered three issues—chiefly, whether Akpoti-Uduaghan’s comment infringed on Bello’s right to privacy, and whether his demands for a public apology and ₦1 billion in damages were valid.

The judge determined that the referenced address was already part of public records and that Bello’s name was not explicitly mentioned in the post. While affirming Bello’s right to privacy, the court found no legal basis to grant his requests and dismissed the suit.

However, Justice Oriji did criticise the senator’s actions, describing her publication of Bello’s residence and address as “improper” and “unconscionable,” especially for someone holding public office.

“Such conduct must be and is hereby deprecated by the court,” he stated, stressing the need for public officials to act with discretion and responsibility when using social media.