Alleged Defamation: Judge Declines FG’s Request For Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Arrest
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who failed to appear in court for the commencement of her defamation trial.
The judge ruled against the application after the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, admitted that the charge was only served on the senator’s lawyer earlier that morning in court.
Justice Umar held that it would be unjust to expect the senator to appear in court when there was no prior service of the charge or a hearing notice on her directly. He described the request for her arrest as unfounded and premature.
Disagreeing with the prosecution’s argument that service on her counsel was sufficient to infer her awareness, the court stressed that proper procedures must be followed in criminal matters, especially where personal liberty is at stake.
Following the refusal of the arrest application, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge on the Senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN). Justice Umar granted the request and subsequently fixed June 30 for arraignment.
The case stems from statements made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television interview, in which she alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello were involved in a plot to assassinate her.
The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, is prosecuting the matter as a defamation suit.
A similar suit, also linked to the same televised comments, is currently pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
