Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has denied the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her absence at a defamation trial.
The judge made the ruling after government counsel, David Kaswe, acknowledged that the defamation charges were only served on Senator Natasha’s lawyer that same Monday morning, in the courtroom.
Justice Umar stated that since the Kogi Central senator had not been previously served with the charge or a hearing notice, it would be unreasonable to expect her to appear in court.
On that premise, the judge refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant to be issued for the arrest of the suspended senator.
The judge disagreed with the prosecution’s argument that as her legal counsel had been served, it was only expected that the senator was aware of her pending arraignment.
Following the court’s ruling, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge on the senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN).
The application was granted by the court, which then fixed June 30 for her arraignment.
The case at the Federal High Court is similar to that currently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was drafted to court for alleging, on live television, that Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio and ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, are plotting her assassination.
The Nigerian government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had filed charges bordering on defamation against the senator.
