Court rejects FG’s request to arrest Natasha

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a case bordering on alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

During Monday’s court session, the prosecution informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment. However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent. Citing her absence, the prosecution urged the court to order her arrest, claiming that the charges had been served on her legal representative.

The defence, however, pushed back against the request, explaining that the senator had not been properly notified. According to her counsel, the charge sheet was only received that same morning in court, and the senator herself had neither seen the document nor been informed that she was expected in court for arraignment.

Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Umar, asked the prosecution whether the charges had been personally served on the defendant. When the answer was negative, the judge ruled that it would be inappropriate to grant the arrest request, noting that proper service of court documents is a prerequisite for issuing a bench warrant.

Instead, Justice Umar directed that the charges be officially served through the senator’s lawyer and fixed June 30 for her formal arraignment.

The case stems from comments allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television broadcast on April 3. In the said interview, she reportedly accused Senate President Akpabio and ex-Governor Bello of being involved in an alleged plot to assassinate her—a claim that triggered the defamation charges now being pursued by the Federal Government.