The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed an application by the Federal Government seeking the issuance of a bench warrant against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in an alleged defamation case.
The government is prosecuting Akpoti-Uduaghan on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello over comments she allegedly made during a live television appearance on Channels Television on April 3, 2025. In the broadcast, Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly made defamatory remarks against Akpabio and Bello, including claims of an alleged plot to assassinate her.
When the case was called, prosecuting counsel Mr. D.D. Kasue informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment, but the defendant was absent. Kasue insisted that since the charge had been served on the defendant’s counsel, the senator was fully aware of the matter.
“It was this morning that we were able to serve the defendant through her counsel but the defendant is not in court. So it means the defendant is aware of this matter but decided not to appear in court, in the 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,” Kasue told the court.
However, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Mr. Jacob Usman, SAN, quickly objected, describing the prosecution’s application as “strange and uncourteous.” Usman informed the court that upon discovering the existence of the charge, he personally contacted the prosecutor and agreed to accept service on behalf of his client.
“I was served the charge at 9:15 this morning here in court so how will the defendant know that the matter is coming up when she has not seen the charge? I find the application strange and it should be dishonoured, if the defendant has not been served, she cannot be in court,” Usman stated.
He urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s application, arguing that it was “made in bad taste.”
In his ruling, Justice Musa Umar questioned the prosecutor on whether the charge had been personally served on the defendant. Kasue admitted that it had not.
Justice Umar said it was impossible to grant such an application for a bench warrant without personal service of the charge on the defendant. He, therefore, rejected the prosecution’s request.
The judge, however, granted the application for substituted service through the defendant’s counsel, a request the prosecutor made after his initial application for a bench warrant was refused.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to June 30 for arraignment.
The defamation case stems from remarks Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly made during her appearance on Channels Television, in which she was said to have accused Akpabio and Bello of involvement in a purported assassination plot against her.
