A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Federal Government’s application for a bench warrant to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, ruling that she had not been properly served with the charges in her defamation case.
Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Umar, dismissed the request made by federal prosecutors, who are pursuing the case on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The prosecution accuses Akpoti-Uduaghan of making allegedly defamatory remarks during a live television interview aired on April 3, 2025.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecuting counsel David Kaswe told the court the matter was scheduled for arraignment but claimed the defendant was absent despite being aware of the charges.
“It was this morning that we served the defendant through her counsel,” Kaswe said, arguing that her absence was deliberate and urging the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Jacob Usman (SAN), strongly opposed the application, calling it “strange” and “discourteous.” He clarified that although he received the charge on his client’s behalf, it occurred only minutes before the court session began—specifically, at 9:15 a.m. within the court premises.
“My client could not have known the date of arraignment without first seeing the charge. The prosecution’s claim that she is deliberately avoiding court is not only false but made in bad taste,” Usman argued.
He urged the court to reject the prosecution’s request and allow due process to unfold.
Justice Musa Umar sided with the defence, noting that the defendant had not been personally served the charge, a fundamental requirement before an arrest warrant can be considered.
“You cannot seek to arrest someone who has not been served. The rule of law must prevail,” the judge ruled.
Rather than grant the bench warrant, the court approved the prosecution’s alternate request—for substituted service through Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, allowing the legal process to proceed.
The matter was adjourned to June 30, 2025, for formal arraignment.
The defamation case stems from comments allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a television interview in which she reportedly linked Senate President Akpabio and former Governor Bello to a purported plot to assassinate her. The comments sparked swift backlash, prompting the legal action.
This high-profile case pits a prominent female lawmaker against two of Nigeria’s most powerful political figures, raising significant public interest around issues of free speech, political rivalry, and the weaponization of defamation laws.
