By Atoyebi Nike
Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application by the Federal Government seeking a bench warrant for the arrest of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an ongoing defamation case.
The defamation suit, filed by the government on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, is based on claims made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Channels Television on April 3, 2025. During the broadcast, she allegedly accused both men of plotting to assassinate her.
When the case was called on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. D.D. Kasue, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment. However, the defendant was absent. He argued that although Akpoti-Uduaghan had not been personally served, her legal representative had received the charge earlier that morning, suggesting she was aware of the proceeding.
“It was this morning that we served the defendant through her counsel. It means the defendant knows this matter but chose not to appear,” Kasue said, requesting the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
But defense counsel, Jacob Usman, SAN, strongly objected, describing the application as “strange and discourteous.” He told the court that the charge was only served on him at 9:15 a.m. inside the court premises on the day of the hearing and that the senator had no prior notice of the case.
“The defendant could not have known about the case today without having received the charge,” Usman said, urging the court to reject the application.
In his ruling, Justice Musa Umar held that since the defendant had not been directly served, a bench warrant could not be issued. He dismissed the prosecution’s application and granted a request for substituted service to be effected through her lawyer. The judge adjourned the case to June 30, 2025, for formal arraignment.
