The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has stopped the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Meanwhile, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, has ordered the Senate President Godswill Akpabio,
the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate and the chairman of the ethics committee to appear before the court within 72 hours to show cause why full interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte application filed and moved by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team, which includes Sanusi Musa, M. J. Numa, Y. M. Zakari, B. J. Tabai, Tijanni Jimol, and M. C. Bekee.
The Senator, representing Kogi Central had been summoned to appear before the disciplinary committee of the Senate after a heated exchange of words with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the February 20 plenary.
She had protested against her assigned seating arrangement, repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.
In response, the Senate referred her case to the ethics committee for review.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had in an interview with Arise TV on February 28, alleged that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected unwanted advances from Akpabio.
In her application, she urged the court to declare any action taken during the pendency of her suit as, “null, void, and of no effect.”
She also sought permission for substituted service of court documents on the defendants, who include the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the chairman of the ethics committee.
Granting the interim injunction, Justice Egwuatu ordered the defendants to appear within 72 hours of being served to show cause why a full interlocutory injunction should not be issued against them.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter till March 10, 2025 for further proceedings.
