The federal high court in Abuja retained the judgment until June 27, 2025, a lawsuit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-uduaghan, challenging the Senate moratorium.
Senator Akpoti-uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, is raising objections to the Senate decision asking her to suspend her case for six months in order to charge misconduct and violations of Senate rules. She was suspended on March 8 after accusing her of undermining the House lawsuit and accusing the Senate president of sexual harassment on television on the scene.
However, the senator insists that her moratorium violated an earlier court order issued by Judge Obiora Egwuatu, which prohibits any lawsuit against her until the legal action is over.
Justice Niako heard about the matter on Tuesday, May 13, and also filed two counts of contempt on Monday – Senate President Godswill Akpabio filed one charge against Akpoti-uduaghan and the other by Akpoti-uduaghan against Akpabio and the Senate.
Natasha’s attorney Michael Numa (SAN) adopted his written opinion at a hearing that resumed Tuesday and urged the court to overturn all preliminary objections to the lawsuit. He asked the court to approve the relief sought by the plaintiff without restrictions and refused any application for contempt from her.
Numa believes that the court’s order to restrict the parties from conducting media interviews does not apply to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public statement on Sexu@L’s harassment claim. He also accused the Senate and its leaders of despising the court’s actions despite order orders.
Charles Yoila, representing the clerk of the National Assembly, brought the court’s attention to his pending motion to challenge his jurisdiction. He urged the court to directly dismiss the case.
Attorneys for the Senate, Chikasolu Ojukwu (San) and J. Daudu (SAN) supported the preliminary objection and insisted that Akpoti-Uduaghan violated the court’s order in terms of media participation.
Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), a lawyer for Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also urged the court to uphold his initial objection, believing that the matter has been learned. Additionally, he asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit and accept his application to remove Akpoti-uduaghan’s “sarcastic apology” posted online.
The legal team of the Senate committee chairmen is also aligned with the defendants and calls for the lawsuit to be dismissed.
After hearing all the arguments, Judge Binta Nyako said she would first resolve the issue of contempt raised by both parties before making the judgment.
She said the case would be terminated if the defendant’s initial objection was successful.
The judge then adjourned the matter until June 27, 2025, and made a judgment.
