The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 27, 2025, for judgment in the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan challenging her six-month suspension from the Nigerian Senate.
Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, scheduled the date after hearing final arguments from all parties involved in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025. The lawsuit, initiated by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, seeks to nullify the Senate’s suspension order, which she argues was issued in defiance of existing court orders.
The lawmaker from Kogi Central has cited as defendants: the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Nedamwen Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Jubril Okutekpa, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal team urged the court to declare her suspension unlawful and unconstitutional. They argued that the Senate acted in contempt of an interim court order restraining it from initiating or continuing disciplinary action against the senator pending the outcome of the case.
The defence, however, challenged the court’s jurisdiction, insisting that the matter was an internal legislative affair beyond judicial interference. They also accused the senator of violating a court order dated April 4, which barred all parties from making public comments on the case. Senate President Akpabio’s counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), drew attention to a “satirical apology” posted by Akpoti-Uduaghan on Facebook, which he said ridiculed the court’s directive.
Justice Nyako said she would first address the contempt issues raised before ruling on the substantive case and preliminary objections. She noted that the case involved complex legal questions requiring detailed judicial interpretation.
The matter originally came before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who recused himself on March 25 after the Senate President alleged bias. Justice Egwuatu had earlier granted an interim order on March 4, halting the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from continuing any disciplinary action against the senator. He also directed the Senate to explain within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction should not be granted to protect Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rights under the Nigerian Constitution, the 2023 Senate Standing Order, and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
Despite the interim orders, the Senate proceeded with disciplinary hearings and imposed the suspension. Justice Egwuatu later amended his original order, removing the clause barring the Senate from any legislative activity while the suit was pending.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan approached the court following a dispute with the Senate President during plenary on February 20, 2025. After protesting a change in her seating arrangement and raising repeated points of order, she was referred to the Ethics Committee. In a subsequent interview on February 28, the senator alleged that the disciplinary process was a retaliatory action for rejecting inappropriate advances from Akpabio.
In her application, the senator asked the court to declare any proceedings by the committee during the pendency of her case as “null, void, and of no effect.” She also requested that all legal documents be served through substituted means, including the Clerk of the National Assembly or through public notices in national newspapers.
The court granted her leave and issued interim orders preventing the Senate and its committee from proceeding with the investigation until the motion for interlocutory injunction was heard and determined.
With all legal arguments concluded, the Federal High Court is now set to rule on whether the Senate’s actions were lawful, with the final judgment expected on June 27.
