The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected an application by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant against suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a defamation case brought against her.
The case relates to allegedly defamatory remarks made by Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live appearance on Channels Television on 3 April 2025. She is alleged to have made defamatory statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, including an accusation that they plotted to assassinate her.
Kasue stated that he had served the charge on the defendant’s counsel, which, in his view, indicated that the defendant was aware of the matter.
The prosecutor, therefore, requested the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendant for failing to appear despite being aware of the charge.
“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 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 said.
However, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, Mr Jacob Usman, SAN, swiftly opposed the application, describing it as strange and discourteous.
Also Read: Alleged Fraud: Court Grants ₦20m Bail to Mercy Chinwo’s Ex-Manager
Usman told the court that upon learning of the suit’s pendency, he contacted the prosecutor to inform him that his client had authorised him to receive the charge on her behalf.
“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,” he said.
He urged the court to disallow the application, describing it as being made in bad faith.
The trial judge, Justice Musa Umar, asked the prosecutor whether the charge had been served directly on the defendant. Kasue admitted it had not.
Justice Umar ruled that it would be inappropriate to grant the application for a bench warrant when the defendant had not been properly served.
He refused the request for a bench warrant and instead granted an application for substituted service through the defendant’s counsel an application which the prosecutor made as an apparent afterthought.
The judge adjourned the matter to 30 June for arraignment.
