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Defamation suit: Senator Natasha absent from court

Once again, the suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central at the national assembly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was not in Court on Wednesday when the suit she filed against Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Mfon Patrick came up for hearing.

The Senator was represented at the hearing by Barr. O.U. Ugbogbo. In the suit filed since February and marked CV/754/2025, Senator Akpoti claimed she was defamed by Mr. Mfon Patrick, a Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate.

Senator Godswill Akpabio was also sued in his personal capacity. But since after filing the suit, only the office of the President of the Senate has been served with the originating process and no attempt has been made to serve others.

When the case came up on Wednesday, Senator Akpoti’s lawyer could not explain to the court why processes have not been served on Senator Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Mfon Patrick since February when the case was filed.

Apparently infuriated by Senator Akpoti’s lawyer’s obvious ignorance of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, the presiding Judge thundered, “don’t come and stare at the ceiling. You have to be serious about this case and resort to the Rules”.

Counsel for Mr. Mfon Patrick, Fidel Albert, Esq informed the Court that he was appearing under protest as his client had equally not been served with the court processes and only became aware of the case on social media.

Counsel to Senator Natasha Akpoti pleaded with the Court for more time to put their house in order, an application which was not opposed.

Consequently, the case has been further adjourned to June 9 to enable Senator Akpoti file all necessary applications, if any.


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