JUST IN : Court announces date to deliver judgement in Senator Natasha’s suspension suit

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27 as the date for delivering judgement in a suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is contesting her suspension from the Senate.

The Kogi Central senator had taken legal action against the upper legislative chamber, disputing her suspension under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Her suit is rooted in claims of misconduct and perceived bias on the part of involved parties.

Named as defendants in the case are the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct.

When the matter came up, counsel for Akpoti-Uduaghan, Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN), informed the court that the plaintiff had complied with previous directives by submitting all necessary documents.

Lawyers representing the Senate and the Senate President—Paul Daudu (SAN) and Ekwo Ejembi, respectively—confirmed their filings as well but brought to the court’s attention a motion alleging disobedience of a prior court order by the plaintiff.

The defence contended that Akpoti-Uduaghan defied the court’s order by sharing a satirical letter addressed to the Senate President on her Facebook page and through national newspaper publications on March 27.

Responding to the allegation, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Michael Numan (SAN), acknowledged receipt of the contempt motion but highlighted that a similar motion had previously been filed against the defendants.

He argued that the statement attributed to Akpoti-Uduaghan was unrelated to her, asserting, “the alleged contemptuous statement had no nexus with the plaintiff.”