Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has turned down the Federal Government’s request for the arrest of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her failure to appear for trial in a defamation case.

 

During proceedings, government lawyer David Kaswe acknowledged that the defamation charges were only served on the senator’s legal representative earlier that same morning, within the courtroom. Justice Umar ruled that since the senator herself had not previously received the court summons or charge sheet, her absence could not be deemed deliberate.

 

The judge therefore declined to issue a bench warrant for her arrest, disagreeing with the prosecution’s claim that service on her lawyer was sufficient notice to expect her presence.

 

Subsequently, the court granted the prosecution’s application to serve the charges on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), and adjourned the case to June 30 for arraignment.

 

The defamation case is linked to allegations made by the senator during a live television broadcast, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello of plotting her assassination. The charges were filed by the Attorney General of the Federation on behalf of the Nigerian government.