Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal High Court in Abuja has set aside June 27 to deliver its ruling on the contempt of court claim suit filed against the Senate by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senator representing Kogi Central.
Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained a preliminary objection against the Senate to prevent her suspension, but the Senate still went ahead to suspend her from office.
Defendants who are joined in the suit are the Senate, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Godswill Akpabio, and the chairman of the Senate committee on ethics.
After the applicant’s and defendants’ lawyers presented and adopted their respective filings, the presiding judge, Binta Nyako, announced that she would deliver judgment on the contempt claims submitted by both parties.
Nyako also stated that she would rule on the preliminary objection raised by the Senate President, which challenges the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions from initiating disciplinary action against her.
On March 4, Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued an order restraining the Senate from proceeding with any disciplinary measures, following an ex parte application submitted by the senator’s legal team.
Despite the court order, the Akpabio-led Senate announced the six months suspension of the Kogi senator two days later, citing alleged gross misconduct and imposing a six-month suspension.
