Akpabio vs Natasha: Legal fireworks begin March 25 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 25 for legal fireworks in a suit filed against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Senate by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

 

 Akpabio, through his legal team led by senior lawyer Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the Senate.

 

 

 

Besides, Akpabio’s counsel, Ogunwumiju insisted that Akpoti-Uduaghan had failed to properly serve court documents, making it impossible for him to file the necessary response to challenge the competence of the suit.

 

 

 

But Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Michael Numa (SAN), dismissed the claim of improper service, pointing to affidavits in the court’s records confirming that all defendants had been served.

 

 

 

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, after reviewing the affidavits, confirmed that service had indeed been effected.

 

 

 

With that settled, Akpabio’s legal team quickly pushed for an adjournment, arguing that more time was needed to harmonise all court processes.

 

 

 

Following an agreement between the lawyers, Justice Egwuatu adjourned the case to March 25, ordering all parties to file and exchange necessary documents before then. 

 

 

 

This development follows the court’s interim order on March 4, which barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary actions against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

 

 

 

However, in a brazen disregard for the court’s directive, the committee went ahead with its proceedings and slammed the senator with a six-month suspension.

 

 

 

The Nigerian Senate had also issued a statement clarifying the reasons behind the six-month suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, following widespread public criticism and allegations of bias.

 

 

 

In an official press release from the Office of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Bamidle Opeyemi, the Senate refuted claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension was linked to her allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. 

 

 

 

The statement emphasised that her suspension was due to “persistent acts of misconduct, blatant disregard for the provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (As Amended), and gross indiscipline.”

 

 

 

 

 

The Senate narrated that on February 25, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan allegedly refused to sit in her assigned seat during plenary, despite multiple requests from the Minority Leader and other senior senators, which was viewed as an act of open defiance.

 

 

 

She purportedly spoke without recognition from the presiding officer on the same day, violating established parliamentary procedures.

 

 

 

The Senate also accused her of engaging in unruly and disruptive behaviour that obstructed the orderly conduct of Senate proceedings and making abusive and disrespectful remarks against the Senate leadership.

 

 

 

Finally, the Senate stated that she defied summons from the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which was mandated to investigate cases of misconduct.