Alleged Defamation: Judge Declines To Order Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Arrest

Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has rejected a request by the federal government to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her failure to appear in Court to face criminal trial.

The Judge gave the ruling after the government’s Counsel, David Kaswe, told the court that he served the charge on the female lawmaker’s lawyer in the courtroom.

Justice Umar said as the Kogi Central Senator had not previously been served the charge or hearing notice, it was, therefore, inconceivable that she would be present in the courtroom.

He refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.

The judge disagreed with the prosecution’s argument that as her legal counsel had been served, it was only expected that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was aware of her pending arraignment.

Following the Court’s ruling, the prosecution then applied for substituted service of the charge on the embattled Senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN). The application was granted by the court, which then fixed June 30 for her arraignment.

This case at the Federal High Court is similar to the one currently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was accused of making allegations on live television show against Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, and a former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, of plotting to assassinate her.

The Nigerian government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had instituted the lawsuit against Senator Natasha bordering on alleged defamation of character.