A High Court in Abuja has approved a request by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the suspended Kogi Central senator, to serve court documents on Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President and his senior legislative aide, Mfon Patrick, through substituted means.
In a ruling delivered on an ex parte application presented by U.J. Udoh, counsel to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi on Wednesday approved for hearing notices in Motion No: M/6603/2025 to also be served on Godswill Akpabio, Senate President and his aide, Mfon Patrick, through substituted means.
In an earlier ruling dated May 15, the court directed that all court processes be delivered to the defendants via the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The matter has been adjourned to June 9, 2025, for a report on the service of the documents.
In a related development, Justice A.O. Otulaka of another Abuja High Court also granted Akpoti-Uduaghan leave to serve the Writ of Summons, accompanying documents, and any additional court processes on Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi through substituted service.
In a ruling delivered on May 28, Justice Otaluka granted an order for substituted service, allowing the claimant/applicant to serve the defendant with the Writ of Summons, supporting documents, and any other court processes through publication in a widely circulated national newspaper and by delivery to the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The order was made in line with Order 9 Rule (4) of the 2025 Civil Procedure Rules of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The court has scheduled June 25 for the hearing of the substantive case, marked SUIT NO: FCT/HC/CV/1359/25.
