Court adjourns Natasha Akpoti’s suit against senate to March 25

A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi central, to March 25.

Natasha had approached the court seeking an order restraining the senate committee on ethics and privileges from investigating her.

On march 5, the court issued an order ex parte restraining the committee from conducting disciplinary proceedings against her.

However, the senate proceeded to suspend the senator for six months for allegedly violating its rules.

At the court session on Monday, counsel for the first, second, and third defendants told the court that they had not been served with processes.

But Michael Numa, counsel to Akpoti-Uduaghan, said all parties had been served, adding that affidavits of service were before the court.

After going through the file, Obiora Egwatu, the presiding judge, confirmed that all processes have been served on all defendants.

Subsequently, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, counsel to the third defendant (the senate president), prayed the court for an adjournment for all processes to be harmonised.

Other lawyers aligned with Ogunwumiju’s request for an adjournment adding that it would facilitate accelerated hearing at the next adjourned date.

In his ruling, Egwatu adjourned the matter to March 25 and ordered that all the relevant processes should be served on parties before the date.

Speaking to journalists after court proceedings, Peter Nwaebonyi, deputy chief whip, said it is “strange” for the court to interfere in the affairs of the senate.

He noted that the senate only answered the call of the court for “being a responsible and law abiding institution”.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for “gross misconduct” after engaging Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a heated debate over seating arrangement on February 20.

The lawmaker would later accuse Akpabio of sexually harassing her.

The senate committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions dismissed Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition on procedural grounds.

Neda Imaseun, the committee chairman, had deemed the petition as “dead on arrival” because it was signed by the petitioner, which contravenes senate rules.