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A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary action against the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Presiding Judge Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team.
According to the enrolled court order obtained on Wednesday, the court stated:
“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 is granted allowing the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the 2nd – 4th Defendants/Respondents with the Originating Summons and all other accompanying processes through substituted means, either via the 1st Defendant (Clerk of the National Assembly) or by pasting the documents at the National Assembly premises and publishing them in two national newspapers.
2. An Interim Injunction is granted restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, chaired by the 4th Defendant, from proceeding with its investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant regarding alleged misconduct. This follows the events at the Senate plenary on February 20, 2025, and the subsequent referral by the 2nd Defendant on February 25, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
3. The 1st – 4th Defendants are directed to show cause within 72 hours of being served this order, explaining why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to restrain them from continuing the investigation against the Plaintiff. This is to ensure compliance with the privileges 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.”
The dispute arose on February 20 when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan clashed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation.
Defying Akpabio’s directive, Akpoti-Uduaghan rejected her assigned seat and repeatedly raised points of order, despite being overruled.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South) later raised a point of order, arguing that the incident had tarnished the Senate’s image.
“Attempts to clarify the Senate’s position have been unsuccessful as the people already have their opinion on the incident based on the Kogi lawmaker’s action,” Adaramodu stated.
As a result, the Senate referred Akpoti-Uduaghan to the ethics committee for disciplinary review. The decision followed last Tuesday’s plenary, where lawmakers, after considering Adaramodu’s report, unanimously voted to escalate the matter.
Senate President Akpabio then tasked the committee with reviewing the incident concerning him and Senator Akpoti and reporting back to the Red Chamber.
