A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Fatima Nyako, has set June 27, 2025, for the delivery of judgment in the case filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The Kogi Central Senator is challenging her suspension by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petition, which she claims was due to allegations of gross misconduct. In her suit, Akpoti-Uduaghan has named the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Senator Nedamwen Imasuen as defendants. After listening to the arguments from both sides, Justice Nyako announced that judgment will be delivered on the stated date. Additionally, the judge will rule on the contempt applications filed against Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio. Counsel for the Senate, Paul Daudu, SAN, had accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of acting in breach of an order of the court by posting a satirical apology on her Facebook page. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team also alleged that Akpabio did same with comments by Olisah Agbakogba and Monday Ubani (both senior lawyers), in his favour, during media appearances. The actual order of 4th April by Justice Nyako stopped Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Imasuen from granting media interviews or making social media posts relating to the case while it remained pending before the court. While adopting the documents that contain the closing arguments, counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Michael Numan, urged the court to grant his client’s relief by reversing the Senate Committee’s decision. He also countered the allegations of contempt of court. In their arguments, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the Senate President, and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics Privileges and Public Petitions, all challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. They further urged the court to dismiss the case instituted by the suspended Kogi Central senator. The dispute between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan started from a disagreement over seating arrangements during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025. Akpoti-Uduaghan subsequently made allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio during a programme on ARISE News. She then approached the Federal High Court seeking an order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from investigating her, an action that led to her six-month suspension, following the recommendation of the Senate Committee. Justice Obiorah Egwuatu, who was initially assigned the suit, withdrew from presiding over the case after allegations by Akpabio’s camp.
Court to pass judgement on Sen Natasha’s suspension June 27
