Court keeps Natasha waiting on suit against suspension

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned judgment in the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others over her suspension.

The ruling, originally scheduled for Friday, was postponed to July 4 due to the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako.

Justice Nyako had earlier fixed the judgment date on May 13, after legal representatives—including Michael Numa (SAN) for Akpoti-Uduaghan and the defense counsel—adopted their final arguments in court.

At the next sitting on July 4, the court is expected to deliver three key rulings: the main judgment on the suspension case, a ruling on contempt proceedings between Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan, and a decision on the preliminary objection filed by the defendants challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Nyako had previously outlined her process: “I want to believe that all processes are in. What I am going to do is to first of all look at the issues of contempt and take a decision on it. Then I will look at the notices of preliminary objection. If they succeed, that is the end of the case and if they don’t, I will look at the originating summons filed by the plaintiff.”

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Akpoti-Uduaghan had filed the case via an ex-parte motion, naming the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Senate as the 1st and 2nd defendants. Senate President Akpabio and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, were named as the 3rd and 4th defendants.

The senator had sought an interim injunction restraining the committee from proceeding with its investigation into alleged misconduct connected to a plenary session incident on February 20, pending the court’s decision on the main case.

Although Justice Obiora Egwuatu, the former presiding judge, had initially granted an interim order in her favour, he later vacated the order after Akpabio accused him of bias.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was subsequently suspended for six months by the Senate on grounds of gross misconduct. Justice Egwuatu later recused himself from the case entirely.

NAN