By Prosper Mene
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the Federal Government’s application for a bench warrant to arrest suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who failed to appear in court for a defamation case arraignment. Justice Muhammed Umar ruled on Monday that the prosecution’s request was premature, as the senator had not been personally served with the charge or hearing notice, a prerequisite for such an action.
The case, initiated by the Federal Government on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, comes from statements Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly made during a live television interview on Channels Television on April 3, 2025. The senator is accused of claiming that Akpabio and Bello conspired to orchestrate her assassination and frame it as a mob or local attack, charges that fall under cybercrime and defamation laws.
During the hearing, the prosecution, led by David Kaswe from the Federal Ministry of Justice, argued that serving the charge to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN), was sufficient notice for her to appear in court. However, Justice Umar disagreed, emphasizing that proper procedure in criminal matters requires direct service to the defendant to ensure fairness, especially when personal liberty is at stake. The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s request for substituted service through the senator’s counsel and adjourned the case to June 30, 2025, for arraignment.
Counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Jacob Usman, described the prosecution’s application for an arrest warrant as “strange and uncourteous,” noting that he had only received the charge on behalf of his client on the morning of the hearing. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan herself confirmed the government’s attempt to arrest her, stating, “Suddenly, the Prosecuting Counsel applied for a bench warrant against me, which my counsel stiffly opposed. Gratefully, the court rejected the bench warrant for my arrest.” She expressed her commitment to appear in court on the scheduled dates.
The case has garnered broader concerns, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urging President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the charges, arguing that they infringe on Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to free expression. SERAP’s call follows an earlier Court of Appeal ruling on May 21, 2025, which struck out motions by Akpabio and ordered him to pay a ₦100,000 fine to the senator, further highlighting tensions between the parties.
Critics have also questioned the credibility of the case, pointing at the involvement of a controversial witness, Sandra Duru, who reportedly faces unresolved fraud charges and allegations of fabricating evidence against the senator. Civic groups and the senator’s media team have called for transparency and urged the Attorney General and Inspector General of Police to address these concerns.
The arraignment is now set for June 30, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where further developments are expected to expose more on this high-profile dispute.
