Abuja, FCT – Justice Musa Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, denied an application by the Federal Government seeking the arrest of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for her non-appearance at the commencement of her defamation trial. The Federal Government is prosecuting Akpoti-Uduaghan in a case brought purportedly on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
During the day’s proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment but noted the defendant’s absence. Kaswe argued that since the charge had been served on the defendant’s counsel, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was presumed to be aware of the proceedings. He then moved for a bench warrant to be issued against her for failing to appear in court to enter her plea.
“It was this morning that we were able to serve the defendant through her counsel, but the defendant is not in court,” Kaswe stated. “So, it means the defendant is aware of this matter but decided 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.”
However, counsel for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, Jacob Usman (SAN), countered the prosecution’s application, describing it as “strange and uncourteous.” Usman informed the court that upon learning of the suit’s pendency, he had proactively contacted the prosecutor to confirm his readiness to receive the charge on his client’s behalf.
“I was served the charge at 9:15 a.m. this morning here in court. So, how will the defendant know that the matter is coming up when she has not seen the charge?” Usman queried. He urged the court to disregard the application, asserting that “if the defendant has not been served, she cannot be in court.”
Justice Musa Umar then questioned the prosecutor directly on whether the charge had been personally served on the defendant, to which Kaswe responded in the negative. Consequently, Justice Umar ruled that it was impossible to grant the application for a bench warrant when the defendant had not been duly served.
The judge refused the application for arrest and instead granted the prosecution’s subsequent request for substituted service through Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel. The matter has been adjourned to June 30, 2025, for arraignment.
The defamation case is reportedly linked to alleged comments made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television appearance on April 3, 2025, wherein she purportedly made defamatory statements against Senate President Akpabio and former Governor Bello, including allegations of a plot to assassinate her.
