The Federal High Court in Abuja has vacated its earlier ruling that had temporarily stopped the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, by the Senate.
On Wednesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu overturned the decision after hearing arguments from both parties involved in the case.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had sought the court’s intervention through an ex-parte motion, asking it to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuem, from investigating allegations of misconduct against her.
The Senator named several key figures as defendants in the suit, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, its President, and the committee chairman, in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.
On March 4, Justice Egwuatu had initially granted an interim injunction halting any disciplinary action against Akpoti-Uduaghan. The court’s order also declared that any decisions made against her while the case was pending would be null and void.
However, despite this order, the Senate moved forward with suspending the senator for six months on March 6, citing her alleged misconduct during the February 20 plenary session.
In response to the suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a contempt charge, accusing the Senate of flouting the court’s directive.
The Senate, through its lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), contested the court’s order, arguing that it was vague and represented an overreach into legislative affairs. Ojukwu further stated that enforcing the order would interfere with the Senate’s constitutional duties and violate the principle of separation of powers.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s legal representative, Michael Numa (SAN), urged the court to reject the Senate’s argument, asserting that the defendants had willfully disobeyed a valid court order.
In a final ruling, Justice Egwuatu vacated the earlier injunction, effectively allowing the Senate’s suspension decision to stand. The court adjourned the case until March 25 to hear all pending applications.
