From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has declined a request by the federal government to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her failure to appear in court for her defamation trial.
Justice Muhammed Umar rejected the oral application by the Federal Government’s counsel, David Kaswe, on the grounds that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had not been previously served with a copy of the charge or hearing notice.
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Kaswe had earlier informed the court that he served the charge on her lawyer, Johnson Usman (SAN), that same morning in the courtroom on Monday, June 16, 2025.
However, in his ruling, Justice Umar stated that it was inconceivable that the senator would be present in court under those circumstances and accordingly refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.
The judge disagreed with the prosecution’s argument that, since her legal counsel had been served, it was expected that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was aware of her pending arraignment.
Following the court’s ruling, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge on the senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN). The application was granted, and the court fixed Monday, June 30, 2025, for her arraignment.
This case at the Federal High Court is similar to one currently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged, on a live television programme, that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were plotting her assassination.
The federal government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, instituted the defamation lawsuit against the senator.
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