Tuesday May 13, 2025 |
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 27, 2025, for judgment in the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her six-month suspension from the Senate.
Justice Binta Nyako set the date after all parties adopted their final written addresses on Tuesday. The lawmaker, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, is seeking to nullify the suspension, which she argues was imposed in defiance of a subsisting court order.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 against the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen.
Her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jubril Okutekpa, contends that the Senate acted unlawfully by proceeding with disciplinary action while a valid court order was in place, restraining such proceedings.
However, the defendants have urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction to interfere in what they describe as the internal affairs of the legislature. They also accused the senator of violating a court order made on April 4, which restrained all parties from making public statements on the matter.
Representing the Senate President, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, drew the court’s attention to what he termed a “satirical apology” posted by the plaintiff on Facebook, which he argued mocked the court’s order.
Justice Nyako indicated that the court would first address the contempt allegations before ruling on the substantive issues and preliminary objections. She noted that the case raises “recondite issues of law” requiring judicial interpretation.
The controversy stems from a February 20 plenary session, where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan protested an alleged arbitrary change to her seating arrangement. Her repeated attempts to speak were overruled by Senate President Akpabio, leading to a referral of her conduct to the Ethics Committee.
Subsequently, she approached the court seeking protection against what she described as an unfair disciplinary process.
In March, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who initially presided over the matter, granted interim orders halting any Senate action against her. However, the Senate proceeded to suspend her, prompting further litigation and the eventual reassignment of the case to Justice Nyako after allegations of bias.
In her affidavit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan also alleged that her clash with Senate leadership stemmed from personal advances she claims to have rebuffed from the Senate President, adding a layer of complexity to the matter.
The court’s final judgment, scheduled for June 27, is expected to set a significant precedent on the balance between legislative autonomy and judicial oversight.
