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| The committee sitting with Natasha absent |
In a significant legal move, Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order, effectively halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
This decision follows an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, who represent the senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The disciplinary proceedings were initiated after a dispute involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation in the Senate chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had been invited to appear before the Senate’s disciplinary committee following an altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on February 20, 2025.
According to the document, the Kogi senator prayed that the court grant an order restraining the Senate and its ethics committee from “proceeding with the purported investigation” against her.
Akpoti-Uduaghan asked the court to grant an order “declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this suit is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever”.
The Kogi senator also prayed for a court order allowing the defendants to be served with the originating summons and other related documents through substituted means.
“An order of this honourable court granting an Interim Injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct headed by the 4th Defendant from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February, 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on 25th February, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction,” a part of the application read.
In his verdict, the presiding judge ruled that the defendants should come and show cause within 72 hours, upon the service of the order, why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them.
Justice Egwuatu granted the prayer that the defendants should be served by substituted means.
The judge adjourned the case to March 10, 2025, for the defendants to show why the applicant’s reliefs should not be granted.
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