Court Rejects Federal Government Request To Arrest Senator Natasha

By: Awajis Josiah-Chijindu

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant against the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her failure to appear in court for arraignment in an alleged defamation suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Umar, delivered the ruling after the federal government’s counsel, Mr. David Kaswe, informed the court that the charge had been served to her lawyer.

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.

The Federal Government’s counsel, however, argued that Akpoti-Uduaghan should have been aware of her arraignment since her legal counsel had been served.

The judge, in response, dismissed the argument, stating that serving the charge on her legal counsel was not sufficient to presume the senator’s awareness of the arraignment.

Following the court’s ruling, the prosecution applied for substituted service of the charge through her counsel, Johnson Usman.

Comments

RE: REPLY TO ELEM-KALABARI COUNCIL'S PRESS RELEASE

SPONSORED FROM: THE PEOPLE OF DABIRA, COMMUNITY BILLE KINGDOM. DATE: JANUARY 23, 2025 We, the people of Dabira community, hereby submit this formal reply in response to the Ijaw National Congress (I.N.C) press release issued by the Elem-Kalabari Council of Chiefs on January 23, 2025. In response to the claims made by the Elem-Kalabari community, we provide the following perspectives based on territorial rights, historical ownership, and the law. 1. TERRITORIAL CLAIMS AND ENCROACHMENT We categorically reject the assertion by the Elem-Ama Council that the Bille people’s claims of encroachment are "false alarms." The ongoing surveying activities in the Cawthorne Channel area, which have been identified as encroaching on Bille lands, are clear legal violations under customary and statutory law. According to established legal principles governing the ownership and use of land, including the Nigerian Land Use Act (1978), the rights of indigenous communities to their ancestral lan...

Bille People Appeal To Governor Fubara To Prevail On Alhaji Asari Dokubo To Stop Evasion Of Territory

SPONSORED The Bille Clan of the Ijaw National Congress, INC in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State has appealed to the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to call the Amayanabo of Torusarama Piri, Alhaji Majaheed Asari Dokubo to order and stop his unlawful conduct of surveys aimed at establishing his territorial map with deliberate intention to Annex Bille Kingdom. The people also called on the Governor to direct Alhaji Majaheed Asari Dokubo to stop patrolling Bille Kingdom territories with all kinds of militant groups subject to his authority but stay within the circumference of his Torusarama Piri. Chairman Ijaw National Congress Bille Clan, Mr. Andrew Bala Kio, stated that the Amayanabo of Torusarama of Elem kalabari does not have any authority to patrol around Bille Kingdom Territory or effect any survey pointing out that his activities which constitute a breach of peace and good neighbourliness if allowed to continue will increase the tension alr...

Rivers State Government Targets Reduction In Gender Based Violence

By: Martha Igbiks The Rivers State government has reaffirmed its dedication to tackling gender-based violence (GBV), aimed at reduce its prevalence between 5-10% . The State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Honourable Ilamu Arugu, made this commitment during a meeting with the Heads of the subcommittee on GBV prevention in the State. The Commissioner expressed gratitude to the committee's Coordinator, Barr. Evelyn Asimiea Membere and her team for their selfless efforts and level of cooperation, emphasizing that their work is about protecting the people and ensuring their safety . "This is not about compensation; it's about protecting our people and their safety" he said. "Our ministry will do everything humanly possible to ensure Rivers State is not left behind at curbing this menace. "I have his Excellency's mandate to treat this issue and will send my report to him based on my interface with you. Our aim is not only to meet Act...

Awajis George News

Search This Blog