The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a request by the Federal government to have Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan arrested for failing to appear for the start of her defamation trial. Justice Muhammed Umar ruled that the Senator could not be expected to be present in court when she had not been served the charge or hearing notice.

The government’s counsel, David Kaswe, had admitted that the charge was served on the Senator’s lawyer in the courtroom on the same morning. Justice Umar said, “It is inconceivable that the defendant would be present in court when she has not been served the charge or hearing notice.”

The prosecution had argued that since the Senator’s counsel had been served, it was expected that she was aware of her pending arraignment. However, the judge disagreed with this argument and refused the application for a bench warrant.

Following the court’s ruling, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge on the Senator through her counsel, Johnson Usman (SAN). The application was granted, and the court fixed June 30 for her arraignment.

The defamation lawsuit was instituted by the Nigerian government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, over allegations made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan on live television that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and ex-Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello were plotting her assassination.