From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has declined a request by the Federal Government to order the arrest of the Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over her failure to appear in court for her defamation trial.
Justice Muhammed Umar rejected the oral application by counsel to the , David Kaswe on the ground that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had not been previously served with a copy of the charge or hearing notice
Kaswe had in his earlier submission, informed the court that he served the charge on her lawyer that same morning in the courtroom.
However, in his ruling, Justice Umar said it was therefore, inconceivable that she would be present in the courtroom and accordingly, refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant.
The judge disagreed with the prosecution’s argument that as her legal counsel had been served, it was only expected that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was aware of her pending arraignment.
Following the Court’s ruling, the prosecution then applied for substituted service of the charge on the Senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN).
The application was granted by the court, which then fixed June 30 for her arraignment.
This case at the Federal High Court is similar to that currently pending at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged, on live television programme, that Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio and ex-Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello were plotting her assassination.
The FG , through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had instituted the lawsuit bordering on defamation, against the Senator.