Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan escapes arrest

Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Monday escaped arrest when the Federal High Court, Abuja, declined a request by the Federal Government to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of suspended Senator of Kogi Central Senator, in a case bordering on alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

The move to arrest Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan came during Monday’s court session when the prosecution informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment.

However, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent. Citing her absence, the prosecution urged the court to order her arrest, claiming that the charges had been served on her legal representative.

The defence, however, pushed back against the request for the arrest of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, explaining that the senator had not been properly notified.

According to her counsel, the charge sheet was only received that same morning in court, and the senator herself had neither seen the document nor been informed that she was expected in court for arraignment.

Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Umar, asked the prosecution whether the charges had been personally served on the defendant. When the answer was negative, the judge ruled that it would be inappropriate to grant the arrest request, noting that proper service of court documents is a prerequisite for issuing a bench warrant.

Instead, Justice Umar directed that the charges be officially served through the senator’s lawyer and fixed June 30 for her formal arraignment.

The case stems from comments allegedly made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan during a live television broadcast on April 3.

In the said interview, she reportedly accused Senate President Akpabio and ex-Governor Bello of being involved in an alleged plot to assassinate her—a claim that triggered the defamation charges now being pursued by the Federal Government.