Court rejects FG’s request to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declined an application by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant against suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an ongoing defamation case.

The case, filed on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, stems from alleged defamatory statements Akpoti-Uduaghan made during a live appearance on Channels Television on April 3, 2025—claims which allegedly included a plot to assassinate her.

At the hearing, prosecuting counsel Mr. D.D. Kasue informed the court that the case was slated for arraignment but that the defendant failed to appear. He noted that the charge had been served on her counsel earlier that morning and urged the court to issue a bench warrant.

Kasue argued: “The defendant is aware of this matter but chose not to appear. We served the charge through her counsel this morning. I apply for a bench warrant for failure to attend court.”

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Mr. Jacob Usman, SAN, described the application as “strange and discourteous.” He said he voluntarily agreed to accept service of the charge on his client’s behalf in court that morning and questioned how she could be expected to appear when she had not previously seen the charge.

“I was served at 9:15 a.m. right here in court,” Usman told the judge. “The defendant cannot be blamed for not appearing in court when she was never personally served.”

He urged the court to disregard the prosecution’s application, describing it as being in bad faith.

Presiding Judge Justice Musa Umar questioned the prosecutor about personal service of the charge on the defendant. When Kasue admitted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had not been served directly, the judge rejected the request for a bench warrant.

“You cannot issue a bench warrant against someone who has not been served,” Justice Umar ruled.

He instead granted an application for substituted service through her counsel and adjourned the matter to June 30 for arraignment.