A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, on Tuesday, berated the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for posting the house of Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to Kogi State governor, on her X-handle.
Justice Slyvanius Oriji, delivering the judgment, in a fundamental enforcement rights suit filed by Bello, Chief of Staff to Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, against the suspended senator, held that such conduct should not be from a person of her status.
Ali Bello had, on May 21, 2024 instituted the suit, marked: FCT/HC/CV/2574/2024, against Natasha as sole respondent, alleging breach of privacy among others.
Bello through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, sought for eight reliefs among which are respect for his dignity and right to own and acquire property as enshrined in Sections 34(1), 35(1), 37, 43 and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The applicant further complained of the publication of the pictures of his house and address in the senator’s X-handle @Natashaakpoti on March 15, 2024 against the provisions of Section 37 of the Constitution.
Bello claimed further that the respondent alleged in her social media post that he lodged former Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, in the house he was living with his family when EFCC was looking for him.
He added that the lawmaker equally alleged that the house, which he lives in Abuja, belonged to the former governor whom they call ” White Lion of Kogi ‘
Bello, therefore sought a N1 billion general damages and compensation.
Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Oriji said, “Before I go further, the point must be made that it is improper, reprehensible and unconscionable for a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to post the picture of the applicant’s house and the house address on her x social media page on the unfounded belief that the property belonged to Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State.
“Such conduct must be and is hereby deprecated by the Court.”
He noted that there were three issues to resolve in the suit.
One was “whether the publication on Natasha’s X-handle violated the applicant’s fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the Constitution.
“Whether her petition to the Inspector General of Police on the ownership of the said property violated the applicant’s right.
“And whether the applicant is entitled to the reliefs sought.”
