A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday declined to issue a bench warrant—a court order that would have allowed police to arrest someone who fails to appear in court—against suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who failed to appear for arraignment in a criminal defamation suit filed against her by the Federal Government.
The case, brought on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, centers on alleged defamatory statements made by the senator during a live television interview earlier this year.
According to court documents, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly accused both political figures of plotting to assassinate her during an appearance on Channels Television on April 3, 2025.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel D.D. Kasue informed Justice Musa Umar that the matter was scheduled for arraignment but the defendant was conspicuously absent from court.
“It was this morning that we were able to serve the defendant through her counsel, but the defendant is not in court,” Kasue told the 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,” Kasue said, essentially asking the court to authorize police to arrest the senator for her absence.
However, the prosecution’s request was swiftly challenged by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s counsel, Jacob Usman (SAN), who argued that his client had not received proper notice of the proceedings.
“I was served the charge at 9:15 this morning here in court,” Usman explained to the judge. “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.”
The senior advocate further revealed that he had proactively contacted the prosecution to inform them that Akpoti-Uduaghan had authorized him to receive court documents on her behalf, describing the request for police arrest as being “made in bad taste” given the circumstances.
Presiding Justice Musa Umar sided with the defense, ruling that the prosecution’s request for an arrest order was premature given the service issues.
“It is impossible to grant the application for a bench warrant when the defendant has not been properly served,” Justice Umar declared from the bench, meaning he refused to authorize the senator’s arrest since she hadn’t been properly notified of the court hearing.
Instead of issuing the warrant, the court granted a request for substituted service through the defendant’s counsel, ensuring that future proceedings can move forward with proper notification.
The matter has been adjourned to June 30, 2025, for arraignment, giving both parties time to ensure all procedural requirements are properly fulfilled.
The case represents a significant legal challenge for the suspended senator, who has been embroiled in various controversies since taking office. The defamation charges stem from serious allegations made during the televised interview, where she reportedly claimed that two of Nigeria’s most prominent political figures were involved in an assassination plot against her.
The involvement of both the Senate President and a former state governor as complainants underscores the gravity of the allegations and the potential political ramifications of the case.
As the matter progresses toward arraignment, legal observers will be watching closely to see how the court handles what promises to be a high-profile criminal defamation case involving several key figures in Nigerian politics.
