Mixed Rebuke: Judge Dismisses Privacy Violation Claim Against Senator Natasha, Criticizes Her Social Media Behavior
Court Rules in Favor of Natasha Akpoti on Privacy Matter, Criticizes Her Inappropriate Online Behavior
In a unexpected turn of events, Judge Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court, FCT dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ali Bello, Chief of Staff to the current Kogi State governor, against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over her social media actions perceived as a privacy breach.
The suit stemmed from an incident in March 2024, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced charges against former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello over an N84 billion fraud, on the platform X. In response, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan posted comment on the EFCC's post, requesting help to find her beloved book, "The Defeated White Lion", at a specific address. The address, surprisingly, was linked to one of the properties the EFCC had sought forfeiture for in December 2022, raising privacy concerns for Ali Bello, Yahaya's nephew.
However, Judge Oriji found that Akpoti-Uduaghan's social media post did not establish a violation of Bello's privacy rights, as there was no direct mention of Bello's name and the address in question was already a matter of public record. Despite accepting Bello's claim for the right to privacy, Oriji decided against public apology and compensation of N1 billion due to lack of evidence.
Nonetheless, the judge was critical of Akpoti-Uduaghan's conduct, particularly her sharing of the address and an image of Bello's residence on social media. He deemed the action as "improper" and "unconscionable" for a public official, suggesting that it was inappropriate for a distinguished senator to expose such sensitive information without proper justification.
"Such behavior must be and is hereby deprecated by the court," Judge Oriji concluded, signaling a cautionary reminder for public figures about their social media conduct while holding public office.
Trivia:
- Justice Nyako to announce final judgment on Akpoti-Uduaghan's suspension case on June 27.
- Senator Natasha appears in court over contempt charges filed by Akpabio.
- Court sets hearing date for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio dispute.
- Akpabio denies involvement of Agbakoba, Ubani in legal suit against Natasha.
- Akpabio: 'Sandra Duru wanted me to destroy Natasha' - journalist confesses.
- Natasha posts TikTok video with Tinubu's 'Omo Ologo' song as background music.
- Despite the judge's dismissal of the privacy violation claim against Senator Natasha, the incident has sparked discussions in Nigeria's general news and politics, particularly concerning the proper use of social media by public figures.
- In the midst of ongoing war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation debates in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, the Judiciary continues to uphold justice with decisions that affect crime-and-justice matters such as this.
- As the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pursues its mandate in tackling corruption, incidents like this serve as a reminder for individuals, even public figures, to exercise caution while sharing sensitive information on social media platforms.
- The ongoing case between Senator Natasha and Senator Akpabio, involving contempt charges and disputes, is set to take a new turn as court dates for hearings are being scheduled.
- As Senator Natasha navigates these complex political waters, her choice of music, such as Tinubu's 'Omo Ologo' song for a TikTok video, raises questions about her approach to sensitive political situations and the messages they convey within Nigeria's Naija political landscape.
