Court stops Senate from probing Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order stopping the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with an investigation into Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Tuesday, followed an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team. The committee had been set to convene and possibly impose an indefinite suspension on the senator.

With this order, all disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan have been put on hold until further judicial review.

According to the enrolled court order:

“Upon reading the twenty-five (25) paragraphed Affidavit in support of the Motion Ex-parte and the Affidavit of Urgency, both deposed to by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of Kogi Central Senatorial District, and the Written Address, all filed at the Registry of this Court.

“After hearing Sanusi Musa SAN, M. J. Numa SAN, Y. M. Zakari Esq., B. J. Tabai Esq., Tijanni Jimol Esq., and Miss M. C. Bekee Esq., Counsel for the Applicant, arguing the application and urging the Court to grant the reliefs sought.

“And the Court having delivered its Bench Ruling in open Court, its reasonings and conclusions are as contained in the body of the Bench Ruling. It is hereby ordered as follows:

“1. An order of this Honourable Court is made granting leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the 2nd – 4th Defendants/Respondents with the Originating Summons and all other accompanying processes in this Suit by substituted means, to wit: by serving same through the 1st Defendant (Clerk of the National Assembly) or pasting same on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two national dailies.

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“2. An Order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is made 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 the 25th of February 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

“3. An order of this Honourable Court is made directing the 1st – 4th Defendants to show cause within 72 hours upon the service of this order on them, why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them, restraining them from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affording her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.”