The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by the Federal Government to have Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan arrested for failing to appear for the start of her defamation trial.
The government is prosecuting Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, applied for a bench warrant to be issued against Akpoti-Uduaghan for failing to appear in court despite being aware of the charge against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Jacob Usman (SAN), objected to the application, arguing that it was strange and uncourteous, and that his client had not been served with the charge.
The trial judge, Justice Musa Umar, asked the prosecutor if he had served the charge on the defendant, and the prosecutor answered in the negative.
The judge refused the application for a bench warrant, holding that it was impossible to grant the application when the defendant had not been served.
The judge granted the prosecution’s application for substituted service through Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel.
The matter has been adjourned to June 30, 2025, for arraignment.
The case is in connection with alleged defamatory comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television appearance on April 3, 2025, against Akpabio and Bello.
