The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed an application by the Federal Government for a bench warrant against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in an alleged defamation case instituted against her.
The government is prosecuting Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
The case is related to alleged defamatory comments made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live TV appearance on Channels Television on April 3, 2025, where she allegedly claimed that Akpabio and Bello were plotting to assassinate her.
When the case was called on Monday, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. D.D. Kasue told the court that the case was slated for arraignment but the defendant was absent from court.
He explained that the charge had been served on the defendant’s counsel and insisted this meant the defendant was well aware of the proceeding.
He then asked the court to issue a bench warrant for the defendant’s failure to appear in court despite knowing of the charge against her.
“It was this morning that we were able to serve the defendant through her counsel, but the defendant is not in court. So it means the defendant is aware of this matter but chose not to appear in court. In light of this, I apply that a bench warrant be issued against her for failure to attend court to take her plea in this criminal charge,” Kasue said.
Counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Jacob Usman, SAN, described the application as “strange and discourteous.”
Usman told the court that when he heard about the suit, he called the prosecutor to notify him that his client had authorised him to receive service of the charge on her behalf.
“I was served the charge at 9:15 this morning here in court, so how will the defendant know that the matter is coming up when she has not seen the charge?
“I find the application strange and it should be dismissed; if the defendant has not been served, she cannot be in court today,” Usman said.
He therefore urged the court to discountenance the application.
Trial judge, Justice Musa Umar, asked the prosecutor if the charge had been served directly on the defendant. Kasue answered in the negative.
Justice Umar held that a bench warrant could not be issued against a defendant who had not been adequately served.
He dismissed the application and approved the prosecutor’s subsequent application for substituted service through her counsel.
The judge adjourned the matter until June 30 for arraignment.
