Court slams Natasha for posting Kogi Chief of Staff’s house on social media

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting at Maitama, Abuja, today slammed the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for posting the picture of the house of the Chief of Staff to Kogi State governor, Ali Bello, on her X.com handle in March, 2024.

The judge disapproved of the senator’s action while delivering judgment in the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/2514/2024, brought by Bello for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to his dignity, personal liberty, right to privacy of his home and family life.

The action of the suspended senator, according to Justice Oriji, was not only improper but also reprehensible and unconscionable without justification, which must be deprecated by the court.

Ali Bello had, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, approached the court through an originating summon seeking the court declaration that as a Nigerian he is entitled to the respect for dignity of his person, personal liberty, right to privacy of his home and family and right to own and acquire property as enshrined under Sections 34(1), 35(1), 37, 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

He further sought a declaration that the publication of pictures of his house and address by the senator on her X handle, @NatashaAkpoti, on March 15, 2024 is a breach of his right to privacy and the privacy of his home.

Bello, among others, further sought an order compelling Akpoti-Uduaghan to pay him the sum of N1 billion as general damages and compensation for the violation of his rights to privacy.

Delivering his judgment today, Justice Oriji held that through her deposition, the senator admitted making the said publication, adding that she failed to establish her claim that the said property stated in her tweet was one of the properties in respect of which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an interim order of forfeiture from the Federal High Court, Lagos.

According to the judge, there was nothing before the court to prove Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assertion that the property at No 1 Dala Hills Street, Maitama, Abuja, belonged to the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, noting that the interim order of forfeiture relied upon by her did not support her assertion.

He added that the respondent did not have any justification to make the post on her X account, which she admitted was meant that former governor Bello was hiding in the house at the time he was declared wanted by EFCC.

“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 house of the applicant (Ali Bello) and the house address in her X social media page without justification and on the unfounded belief that the property belonged to Yahaya Bello (the former governor of Kigu State).

“Such conduct must be and is hereby deprecated by the court,” Justice Oriji held.

While noting that right to privacy is not one of the fundamental rights which courts are regularly called upon to adjudicate, the judge, however, held that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s post sid not refer to Ali Bello but referred to his house address where he lives with his family.

He noted that the house and its address are in the public space, like every house, holding that the respondent’s post cannot be said to be an intrusion upon Bello’s seclusion or solitude.

According to him, publicity could not be given to a house that was already in public space, which could be seen by everyone, adding that the senator’s post “could not be considered highly offensive to an objective reasonable person”.

While dismissing the declaratory reliefs, the order of perpetual injunction, order that Akpoti-Uduaghan tenders public apology and the sum of N1 billion as general damages, the court granted the relief that Bello is entitled to the fundamental rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“It is correct that the applicant, like all other citizens, is entitled to the fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Therefore, the applicant is entitled to this relief. The declaration sought is granted,” the judge held.

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