The Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to issue an arrest warrant against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Justice Muhammed Umar made this ruling after noting that the lawmaker was not properly served with the court’s defamation charge or any hearing notice before the scheduled proceeding.
The federal government, through its lawyer David Kaswe, had asked the court to issue a bench warrant against the Kogi Central senator. However, Justice Umar rejected the request. He said it would not be fair to expect her presence when she had not received the charge directly.
According to the judge, service must be personal or adequately substituted, and in this case, the charge was only handed to her lawyer earlier that same morning in court. “It is not reasonable to assume she was aware of the hearing just because her lawyer received the documents today,” the judge said.
Because of this, the judge ruled that issuing an arrest warrant would be unjustified at this stage. The prosecution’s argument that the lawyer’s receipt of the charge was enough to consider the senator informed was also dismissed.
Court Allows Substituted Service, Arraignment Set for June 30
After the ruling, the government asked the court for permission to serve the charge through the senator’s lawyer. Justice Umar granted the request. The arraignment has now been fixed for June 30.
The case involves accusations made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television interview. In the interview, she claimed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello planned to have her assassinated. These allegations, which gained public attention, form the basis of the defamation charge.
The case currently before the Federal High Court is similar to another matter pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Both cases involve the same public statements made by the senator and their potential legal consequences.
Government Files Charge Through Attorney General’s Office
The defamation suit was filed by the federal government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation. It accuses Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of making false and damaging allegations against two prominent political figures during the televised discussion.
As the arraignment date approaches, public interest in the case remains high. Many Nigerians are following the legal developments closely, especially given the personalities involved and the nature of the claims.
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