At approximately 9:00a.m. today, the Federal High Court in Abuja became the centre of an unusual and tense scene as no fewer than ten trucks of armed policemen were deployed around and inside the court premises. This development coincided with a suit filed against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by lawyers representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Sources indicated that neither Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan nor her legal representatives had been served with any court process regarding the suit prior to the scheduled court session today. The legal team for the senator reportedly remained unaware of the case until the arrival of a lawyer who happened to be present in the court for an unrelated matter.
Upon noticing the substantial police presence and the readiness of the opposing legal team to move a motion for the senator’s arrest, this lawyer intervened by stepping in to represent Senator Natasha in court. The motion before the court sought to obtain an order for the immediate arrest of the senator at her residence.
During proceedings, the presiding judge queried the counsel for the plaintiffs on the service of court papers. The plaintiffs’ lawyers claimed Senator Natasha was evading service. However, no evidence of such evasion was presented, and the claim was refuted by the senator’s legal team who confirmed her availability within the country.
Further inquiries by the judge revealed that service was purportedly effected only at 9:00a.m. today, concurrent with the court session. There was no record of substitute service or alternative legal procedure to inform the senator or her lawyers before the court sitting.
Additional scrutiny uncovered that the suit filed today mirrors another suit scheduled for arraignment on Thursday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The difference lies in the witness list attached to each suit, suggesting duplicity in the legal filings.
The intervention of the lawyer who appeared at the court prevented the immediate execution of the arrest motion. The case was halted pending further legal processes.
This incident raises critical questions about procedural propriety and respect for legal protocols in high-profile cases. The Federal High Court has yet to issue further statements regarding the matter.
Efforts to reach Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the legal representatives for Senate President Akpabio for comments have so far been unsuccessful.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
