By: Mandy Park
Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her husband have arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the second hearing of the federal government’s case against her over alleged cyberbullying charges.
The case has garnered significant attention, and the senator’s appearance in court marks another development in the ongoing proceedings.
It is a case of defamation levelled against her by the Federal government with Godswill Akpabio and Yahaya Bello being the complainants.
Natasha was also accompanied to the court with human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu and many other supporters.
The Federal High Court had earlier rejected the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant against Natasha after the prosecutors filed the charge but delayed service till the morning of the day of arraignment.
The presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Umar, delivered the ruling after the federal government’s counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the charge had been served on her lawyer earlier that morning in the courtroom.
Justice Umar stated that, as the senator had not previously been served with the charge or a hearing notice, it was inconceivable for her to have appeared in court.
On this basis, he refused the prosecution’s application for a bench warrant