The High Court in Abuja has rejected the Federal Government’s request seeking to arrest suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over alleged defamation involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The case was brought up on Monday, where the government, through its legal representative, informed the court that the matter was set for arraignment. However, the senator was not present.The prosecutor claimed the charge had been served to her lawyer, and therefore requested the court to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.
He explained that he had only just received the charge in court that morning, and the senator had not personally seen the document or been informed that the matter would be heard that day.
Justice Musa Umar, who presided over the matter, asked the prosecutor if the charge had been directly served on the senator.
When the answer was no, the judge ruled that the request for a bench warrant could not be granted since the defendant had not been properly served.
Instead, the court allowed the charge to be served through her lawyer and fixed June 30 for arraignment.
The case is linked to comments allegedly made by the senator during a live television programme on 3, where she reportedly accused Akpabio and Bello of being involved in a plot to assassinate her.