By Jane Okafor, Abuja
ABUJA: Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has barred the Senate from going ahead with its scheduled public hearing on the alleged misconduct of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The Court presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, granted the interim injunction among others, and ordered the National Assembly, Senate and the Senate Committee on Ethics to suspend its hearing that was scheduled for Wednesday.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Clerk to the National Assembly, Clerk of the Senate and the Committee on Ethics were directed by the Court to show cause within 72 hours why an interlocutory injunction to stop the hearing should not be granted.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions which had rescheduled to proceed Wednesday, March 5 over her alleged conduct at the Senate during which she accused the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio of victimising her by reallocating her seat without the courtesy of informing her.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan later accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexually harassing her.
Meanwhile, the legal Counsel to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, ‘MJ Numa & Partners LLP’ has written the Clerk of the National Assembly intimating him of the SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 BETWEEN SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN V THE CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 3 ORS.
NOTIFICATION OF THE ORDERS OF THE COURT.
The Chambers drew the attention of all parties in the aforementioned proceedings that the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, Coram: Hon. Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwatu J, in its ruling delivered on 4th March 2025, granted, inter alia, an interim order restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with any investigation against the Plaintiff concerning the alleged misconduct arising from the events that occurred during the Senate plenary on 20th February 2025.
The counsel said that following the referral by the 2nd Defendant on 25th February 2025, the order is pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed on the 3rd day of March, 2025.
He said that the parties have also been ordered to show cause within 72 hours of service of the said order why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted, restraining the defendants from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter. He therefore enclosed a Certified Copy of the order of the Court for the attention of the National Assembly, the Senate President and the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
The Court order reads as follow: UPON THIS Motion Exparte dated 28th February, 2025 but filed on the 3rd day of March, 2025 coming before this Honourable Court on the 4th day of March, 2025 and praying for the following reliefs: i. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT granting leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the 2nd 4th Defendant/Respondents with the Originating Summons and all other accompanying Processes in this Suit by substituted means to wit: by serving same through the 1st Defendant; Clerk of the National Assembly or Pasting same on the Premises of the National Assembly or by publishing same on two national dailies.
ii. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT granting an Interim Injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct headed by the 4th Defendant from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February, 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on 25th February, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
iii. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT directing the 1st -4th Defendants to come and show cause; why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them restraining them from proceeding with purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affording her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023 and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
iv. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this Suit is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
v. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT deeming the afore-referenced mode of substituted service, as good and sufficient service.
vi. AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER(S) as the Court may deem appropriate to make in the circumstances.
UPON READING the twenty-five (25) paragraph Affidavit in support of the Motion Exparte and Affidavit of Urgency both deposed to by Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, Adult, Female, Christian, Nigerian citizen of Kogi Central Senatorial District and Written Address all filed at the Registry of this Court.
AFTER HEARING Sanusi Musa SAN, M. J. Numa SAN, Y. M. Zakari Esq., B. J. Tabai Esq., Tijanni Jimol Esq., and Miss M. C. Bekee Esq. Counsel for the Applicant arguing the application and urging the Court to grant the reliefs sought.
AND THE COURT having delivered its Bench Ruling in open Court, its reasonings and conclusions are as contained in the body of the Bench Ruling.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT is made granting leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to serve the 2nd 4th Defendants/Respondents the Originating Summons and all other accompanying Processes in this Suit by substituted means to wit: by serving same through the 1st Defendant (Clerk of the National Assembly) or pasting same on the Premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two National dailies.
2. AN ORDER OF INTERIM INJUNCTION OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT is made restraining the 2nd Defendant/Defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct headed by the 4th Defendant from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff/Applicant for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February, 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on the 25th of February, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
3. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT is made directing the 1st -4th Defendants to come and show cause within 72 hours upon the service of this order on them why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them, restraining them from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affording her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023 and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act.
4. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT is made declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this Suit is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
5. AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT is made deeming the afore-referenced mode of substituted service, as good and sufficient service.
This matter is adjourned to the 10th day of March, 2025 for the Respondents to show cause.
ISSUED AT ABUJA under the seal of the Court and the hand of the presiding Judge this 4th day of March, 2025.
