Court to Deliver Judgment on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Case on June 27
Court to Deliver Judgment on Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Case on June 27
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 27 to deliver her verdict in the legal challenge brought by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan is challenging her suspension from the Senate, which was ordered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio amid allegations of misconduct. She contends that her suspension was unwarranted and motivated by bias.
During the proceedings, she named the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, chair of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and the Code of Conduct, as defendants.
The case was initially presided over by Justice Obiorah Egwuatu but was later reassigned to Justice Binta Nyako after he recused himself.
On Monday, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutekpa, informed the court that all relevant documents had been submitted in accordance with prior directives. Lawyers representing the Senate and the Senate President, Paul Daudu and Ekwo Ejembi, confirmed they had also filed their responses. However, they accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of violating a court order by posting a satirical apology to the Senate President on her Facebook page on March 27, which was also published in newspapers.
The lawyers stated, “The plaintiff had responded to our motion,” referring to her actions following the contempt allegations. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s other defense attorney, Michael Numan, emphasized that they had received the motion accusing her of disobedience and reminded the court that they had previously filed a similar motion against the defendants for contempt.
He argued that “the alleged statement attributed to the plaintiff has no link to her,” asserting that “there is no connection between the plaintiff and the purported contemptuous remark.” The court is now expected to deliver its verdict on the scheduled date.
