Court sets 27 June for ruling on Sen. Natasha’s suspension case against the Senate

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled 27 June to deliver its ruling in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, who is seeking to overturn her six-month suspension by the Senate.

Justice Binta Nyako fixed the date for judgment after all parties presented their final written submissions. The respondents in the case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, include the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Represented by her legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Jubril Okutekpa, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has asked the court to annul her suspension, asserting that it was executed in violation of an existing court order. However, the respondents argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to intervene in what they termed an internal legislative matter.

The respondents also accused the senator of contravening a court directive issued on 4 April, which prohibited all parties from making public statements regarding the case. Counsel for the Senate President, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, highlighted what he described as a “satirical apology” posted by the senator on her Facebook page, suggesting it ridiculed the court’s order.

Before adjourning the matter, Justice Nyako indicated that she would address the contempt allegations raised by both parties prior to ruling on the preliminary objections. She noted that the case involved “recondite legal issues” necessitating judicial interpretation.

The dispute originated when the previous presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, recused himself on 25 March after the Senate President accused him of bias. Earlier, on 4 March, Justice Egwuatu had issued an interim order suspending the Senate Committee’s disciplinary proceedings against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan. He also directed the respondents to justify within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction should not be issued, preventing them from continuing the investigation without upholding the senator’s constitutional rights.

Despite the court order, the Senate Committee proceeded with its inquiry and subsequently imposed a six-month suspension on the senator. Justice Egwuatu later modified his order, allowing the Senate to continue its activities while the legal process was ongoing.

The controversy arose from a contentious Senate plenary on 20 February, during which Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan repeatedly invoked a point of order to challenge an alleged arbitrary change to her seating arrangement, despite being overruled by the Senate President. The matter was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics for further investigation.

In a later television interview on 28 February, the senator claimed that her difficulties in the Senate began after she rebuffed unwanted advances from Senate President Akpabio. She subsequently sought an ex-parte order asking the court to nullify any actions taken by the committee while her case was pending.

The court, upon granting her application, authorised substituted service of court documents on the respondents via the Clerk of the National Assembly or through publication in two national newspapers. It also issued an interim injunction preventing the Senate Committee from proceeding with the investigation until the substantive case is resolved.

The much-anticipated judgment in this prominent legal dispute is now expected on 27 June.