BREAKING: Court halts Senate Ethics Panel’s Inquiry into Natasha

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order preventing the Senate from proceeding with its planned public hearing into allegations of misconduct against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who granted the interim order, directed the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Senate Committee on Ethics to halt the hearing originally scheduled for Wednesday.

The ruling further mandates the defendants, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, and the Senate Committee on Ethics, to provide justification within 72 hours as to why a more permanent injunction should not be imposed.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan had been summoned to appear before the committee on 5 March regarding her claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was victimising her by reallocating her designated seat. She had also accused him of sexual harassment.

A key legal debate now emerges over whether the court possesses the authority to impede the workings of the Legislature, a body vested with constitutional autonomy and legislative privileges.

As the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee prepares to deliberate on the matter, it remains to be seen how the legislative body will respond to this judicial intervention.